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What is Vascular Surgery?
Vascular surgery is a specialty of surgery that involves the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the vessels (arteries and veins) of the vascular system.
Vascular disorders include blockages and narrowings of the blood vessels, abnormal swellings of the vessels (aneurysm) or vessel malfunctions. The disease processes involved in vascular disorders often involve other body systems and your treatment may therefore require the combined efforts of other medical specialists such as radiologists and general physicians.
The Auckland Regional Vascular Service catchment area extends from Central Auckland to Cape Reinga. The aim of our service is to provide you with the highest possible care.
Services provided Abdominal Aortic aneurysmThis is the dilatation or ballooning of a section of the aorta which is the main artery coming out and away from the heart. An aneurysm usually occurs because of an underlying weakness in the wall of the aorta at that point.
Very often you will not have any symptoms from the aneurysm and it may only be discovered through a chest x-ray or CT scan. If the aneurysm begins to get larger or leak, you may experience chest or back pain.
If there is a risk of the aneurysm bursting, surgery will be required.
Carotid artery diseaseYou have two carotid arteries, one on either side of your neck, that supply blood to your brain. Carotid artery disease occurs if these arteries become narrowed due to atherosclerosis (a build up of fat and cholesterol deposits on the inner walls of the vessels). If a clot forms in one of the carotid arteries and reduces or stops the flow of blood to part of your brain, it may cause a stroke.
You have an increased risk of developing carotid artery disease if you:
Treatment may involve lifestyle changes e.g. stopping smoking, exercising more, dietary changes and/or medication. If there is severe narrowing of the arteries, treatment may involve surgery.
Peripheral vascular disease Peripheral arterial disease refers to the narrowing of arteries outside the heart and brain, usually as the result of atherosclerosis or "hardening of the arteries" (a build up of fatty deposits on the inner wall of arteries). When the arteries become narrowed, the flow of blood to the target organs or tissues is reduced. The arteries commonly affected are those carrying blood to the kidneys, stomach, arms and legs. Peripheral arterial disease often appears first in your legs, with the most common symptom being dull, cramping leg pain that occurs when exercising but stops when you stand still. This is known as "intermittent claudication". Treatment for peripheral arterial disease may involve medication and/or surgery. Varicose veins | vein treatment The most common venous disorders treated by vascular surgery are varicose veins. This occurs when veins in the thighs and legs become enlarged and twisted. This is often caused by the failure of the one-way valve system in the veins, in which case it can be treated surgically by removing the segments of veins containing the malfunctioning valves as well as those veins which are significantly dilated.Auckland City Hospital
Street address
Vascular Service
Level 4
Building 32
Auckland City Hospital
2 Park Road
Grafton
Auckland 1023
Postal address
Vascular Services PO Box 92 024 Auckland 1023 New Zealand
Phone: (09) 307 4949 ext 23909
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