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A
Abdominal: pertaining to the abdomen
Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: an AAA - Abdominal aortic aneurysm procedure or operation to repair an abdominal aortic aneurysm
Abdominal aortic aneurysms: a condition in which the aorta, the main blood vessel in the abdomen, expands like a balloon; abdominal aortic aneurysms may rupture, or "pop", a condition which is usually fatal to the patient
Abdominal blood vessel: an artery or vein in the abdominal area
ACAS Trial: a large national clinical trial, or experiment, which compared the operation called "carotid endarterectomy" with traditional medical management of blockages of the carotid artery. It was found that surgery was more effective in preventing strokes from carotid artery disease than medicines alone.
Amputation: a condition which can occur because of diabetes, infection, gangrene or poor circulation of the legs, whereby part of the limb, or the whole limb needs to be surgically removed.
Amputation of foot: surgical removal of the foot
Amputation of leg: surgical removal of the leg
Aneurysm: a condition in which a blood vessel expands like a balloon; aneurysm may rupture, or "pop", a condition which is often fatal to the patient
Angioaccess: a group of procedures required by patients with severe kidney disease requiring dialysis, whereby a catheter or "shunt" is placed in the arm or neck so that dialysis can be performed
Angiogenesis: a process whereby the body can form new blood vessels
Angiography: a procedure in which dye is injected into a patient's blood vessels so that the exact areas and nature of disease or blockages can be demonstrated and treated
Angioplasty: a procedure in which a device, usually a balloon, is inflated in a narrowed area of a blood vessel in order to widen it. Often, a "stent" device is placed at the same time in order to prevent the blood vessel from becoming renarrowed.
Antiplatelet agents: a group of medications, including aspirin, designed to prevent platelets from working properly. These medications can thin the blood, and lower the rates of heart attack, stroke, and other occurrences in patients with vascular disease.
Aorta: a main blood vessel, or artery, which begins at the heart and supplies blood, oxygen, and other nutrients to all tissues of the body
Aortic: pertaining to the aorta
Aortofemoral bypass: an operation in which a bypass graft is constructed which carries blood from the aorta, around areas of blockage, to the legs. This procedure can greatly increase blood flow to the legs in patients with blockages in certain locations.
Aortoiliac: pertaining to the aorta, or iliac vessels, the main arteries which begin in the abdomen and supply blood to patients' legs.
Arterial: pertaining to an artery, or a blood vessel which supplies blood, oxygen and other nutrients to the tissues of the body.
Arterial blockages: areas of blockage or obstruction in an artery, which are almost always caused by "hardening of the arteries", or atherosclerosis. Left untreated, these blockages may result in stroke, heart attack, amputation of the limbs, or other serious problems.
Arterial doppler test: a non-invasive sonographic test which can measure circulation to the arms or legs.
Arterial insufficiency: a condition in which blockages in the arteries, usually caused by atherosclerosis, causes poor circulation to an area of the body. . Left untreated, these blockages may result in stroke, heart attack, amputation of the limbs, or other serious problems.
Arterialsclerosis: see atherosclerosis
Arteritis: a condition in which inflammation of the arteries occurs, usually in relation to a group of illnesses called "collagen vascular diseases". This includes such illnesses as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and scleroderma.
Artery: a blood vessel which carries blood, oxygen, and other nutrients from the heart to the tissues of the body.
Aspirin: a medication which falls into the group of "antiplatelet" drugs, which may reduce the chance of stroke, heart attack, and other illnesses in patients with vascular disease.
Asymptomatic Carotid Stenosis: a narrowing in the carotid artery, which supplies blood to the brain, which has not yet resulted in a stroke or other symptom.
Atherosclerosis: a common condition in the United States, in which "hardening of the arteries occurs". This may be as a result of genetic predisposition (family history), high blood pressure, diet, high cholesterol levels, diabetes, smoking, or a combination of the above. Arterial sclerosis may result in heart attack, stroke, and amputation of the legs if left untreated
Atherosclerotic heart disease: A condition in which blockages form in the coronary arteries which supply blood to the muscle of the heart; untreated, this may cause heart attacks or sudden death.
B
Balloon angioplasty: a procedure in which a small balloon is blown up inside a narrowed area of an artery, in order to widen the area of blockage.
Balloon dilatation: a procedure in which a small balloon is blown up inside a narrowed area of an artery, in order to widen the area of blockage.
Blockage in an artery: a narrowed area of an artery, usually caused by "hardening of the arteries", or atherosclerosis.
Blockages in the veins: a narrowed area of a vein, a blood vessel which carries blood and waste material from the tissues of the body back to the heart.
Blood clots: a condition in which blood stops flowing in a blood vessel, forming an area of solidified blood or "clot". Left untreated, this condition may result in stroke, the need for amputation of the legs, or "pulmonary embolism" if the clot travels to the lungs. Pulmonary embolisms may be fatal.
Blood thinners: a group of medication which prevent the blood from clotting normally, and which may help to prevent, stroke, heart attacks, amputations of the legs, and other conditions resulting from vascular disease.
Blood vessel: a tube or pipe which carries blood to or from the tissues of the body. The major classes of blood vessels are called "arteries" and "veins"
Blood vessel growth factors: chemicals which the body manufactures which control the growth of blood vessels at a microscopic level.
Blood vessels: see blood vessel.
Brain death: a condition in which the brain ceases to perform the vital functions necessary to sustain life.
Bruit: a sound which may be heard when a physician or nurse listens with a stethoscope over an area of a disease blood vessel.
Buerger's Disease: a condition which affects heavy cigarette smokers, whereby the tiny blood vessels supplying the feet and hands become blocked. Buerger's Disease often results in amputation if not properly treated.
C
Cardiac monitoring: monitoring the heart rhythm, usually by three or more leads placed on the patients chest wall.
Carotid: an artery in the neck that supplies the brain with oxygenated blood. It can be the cause of a stroke if it becomes diseased and narrowed.
Carotid artery: see carotid
Carotid artery balloon angioplasty: the balloon open of a diseased or narrowed carotid artery (artery in the neck supplying the brain) using a balloon inserted via a remote access site (usually an artery in the groin " the femoral artery). This is done to prevent stroke in selected patients.
Carotid artery narrowing: (carotid artery stenosis) " a narrowing in the carotid artery(artery in the neck). It can be one of a number of causes of stroke.
Carotid artery plaques: A build-up of cholesterol, fats and connective
tissue in the carotid artery, usually causing narrowing.
Carotid endarterectomy: open surgery in the neck to clean out and remove a carotid plaque, thereby preventing a stroke.
Carotid artery stenosis: a narrowing in the carotid artery. It can be one of a number of causes of stroke
Catheters: a tube-like, soft plastic tool used in minimally invasive vascular surgery to inject contrast or gain access to a vessel from inside the
vascular tree.
Centers for Disease Control: a government agency which functions to study infectious diseases
Charcot foot: a deformity of the bones in the foot caused by long term diabetes and patients with neuropathy(lack of sensation) in the foot
Chronic pain: ever-present pain
Chronic pain on walking: (claudication) " pain, usually in the calf muscle, upon walking. The pain is usually consistent and goes away when the patient stops walking.
Chronic skin changes: changes in the skin associated with long standing disease(venous or arterial)
Circle of Willis: a connection of arteries in the brain where the arteries from the left, right, front and back portions connect to one another
Claudication: pain, usually in the calf muscle, upon walking. The pain is usually consistent and goes away when the patient stops walking. It is caused by inadequate blood flow, and therefore oxygen delivery, to the muscle during exercise
Clinical trial: a study comparing two or more treatments and their outcomes
Complication: an unplanned occurrence during a procedure that can impact negatively on the patients outcome
Conservative management: delaying (sometimes permanently) more aggressive intervention (surgery)
Coronary artery disease: disease of the blood vessels supplying the heart causing narrowing and inadequate blood flow
CT scan: "cat scan", Computed Tomography " a non-invasive imaging study that enables doctors to view what is going on in the inside of the body from the outside. It does involve small amounts of radiation exposure
D
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): a blood clot in the deep venous system (deep veins of the legs most commonly). Depending on the location, it may require blood thinners for treatment.
Diabetes: medical illness caused by too little insulin (insulin normally
lowers blood sugar) or poor response to insulin. As a result, blood sugars are not well controlled and are higher than normal. It can affect many parts of the body causing disease of small arteries, disease of peripheral nerves, and can affect white blood cells ability to fight infection.
Diabetes mellitus: see diabetes
Diabetic: a patient with diabetes
Diagnosis: a term for an abnormal or diseased state or medical condition
Dialysis Surgery: surgery to gain access to the vascular system for
hemodialysis. This may be in the form of placement of a catheter or creation
of an arm fistula (connection of an artery and a vein) or a connecting graft.
Disabling symptoms: symptoms that make normal daily activities extremely
difficult or unable to be performed
Discharge: when a patient is released from the hospital
Doppler: a small machine that generates and audible signal by ultrasound,
characterizing blood flow in a vessel.
Duplex: a machine that generates and audible and visible signal by
ultrasound characterizing blood flow in a vessel
Duplex scan: a non-invasive test to evaluate blood flow in a vessel
DVT: deep venous thrombosis
E
Embolus: a blood clot or piece of inner artery wall that breaks off and
travels to another artery down stream blocking flow distally
Endarterectomy: "cleaning' of a blood vessel by removing the inner diseased portion to prevent future stroke
Endarterectomy for Asymptomatic Carotid Artery Stenosis: cleaning of the carotid artery by removing the inner plaque in a patient to prevent a future stroke
Endograft: a stented graft placed in the arterial tree from inside the blood vessel via a remote access site. This is most commonly performed via the groin (femoral) artery.
Endovascular approach: treating an artery in the abdomen, chest, or elsewhere through a minimally invasive approach from inside the artery. This is most commonly performed via a remote access site in the groin (femoral artery).
Endovascular aneurysm repair: repair of an aneurysm (usually in the abdominal aorta) through small incisions in a remote artery (usually the femoral artery in the groin)
Endovascular surgery: minimally invasive treatment of vascular disease from inside of the vessel via a remote site (usually, the artery in the groin " the femoral artery)
Epidural anesthesia: anesthesia given through a small catheter placed in the back. This type of anesthesia can be used to avoid giving general anesthesia via a breathing tube
F
Femoral: main artery supplying blood to leg
Fistula: communications between artery and vein
Foot Ulcers: area of skin/tissue breakdown
Functional limb salvage: surgery to keep a leg that allows ambulation
G
Gangrene: dead tissue
Gortex: company that makes prosthetic grafts
Graft: bypass material
H
Hardening of the arteries: atherosclerosis
Heart attacks: myocardial infarction, ischemia to heart muscle
Hemorrhage: bleeding
High blood pressure: elevation in blood pressure, hypertension
High cholesterol: elevation in fat component in blood
I
Imaging: form of imaging
Incision: wound made by surgeon to operate
Intermittent claudication: pain in calves, thighs, buttocks with ambulation that stops with rest
Internal bleeding:
Interruption in blood flow: blockage in the artery
Ischemia: cessation of blood flow
J
Juxtarenal: next to the renal arteries, usually referring to aneurysms
K
kidney failure: inability to filter/clean blood byproducts
L
Leaky valves: improper functioning of valves in vein causing edema or varicose veins
Leg Bypass Surgery: forming a new route for blood to travel around an arterial blockage
Limb loss: losing an arm or leg
Local anesthesia: numbing medicine injected into skin
Lower extremity Arterial Disease: blockages in the arteries of the leg
Lower leg ulcers: breakdown of skin/tissue in feet or ankles
M
Magnetic Resonance Angiogram: MRI of blood vessels
Malformations: abnormal communication of artery and vein
Medical management: treating disease with medicine instead of surgery
Minimally Invasive Procedures: surgery with small incisions or percutaneous techniques
Minimally invasive varicose vein surgery: treatment of varicose veins with small incisions and needle puncture
Ministroke: stroke involving temporary loss of arm or leg function that returns to normal
MRA: magnetic resonance angiogram
MRI: magnetic resonance imaging
N
Narrowing in an artery: atherosclerotic disease resulting in arterial blockage
NASCET (North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial): a randomized study showed the clinical benefit of surgery (carotid endarterectomy) compared with drug therapy(aspirin) for patients with symptomatic carotid stenoses greater than 70%. This study also clearly demonstrated the lack of benefit of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) for patients with mild lesions (0 " 29%). Symptomatic patients include those with stroke, Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), transient one eye blindness.
Neurological disorder: problem with nerves
Neuropathy: motor or sensory deficit from nerve damage
Non-healing wounds: breakdown of skin/soft tissue that does not repair itself
Non-invasive measurements: arterial testing with blood pressure cuffs or ultrasound
Noninvasively: without incisions
Nonsurgical treatment: therapy without surgery
O
Occlusive: blockage
Outlet: typically refers to space where artery, vein, and nerve exit
P
Patch: surgical technique to close blood vessel without narrowing the blood vessel
Perioperative complication rates: minor complications that occur within 30 days
Peripheral vascular disease: blockages in the arteries of the extremities
Persistent leg swelling: edema of leg that does not resolve
Phlebitis: inflammation of superficial veins that results in pain
Physical therapy: rehabilitation to improve function of a limb
Plaque: atherosclerosis within a blood vessel that results in a blockage
Preventing stroke: stopping a stroke with surgery or medicine before the stroke occurs
Preventive medial interventions: treating disease with medicine/surgery to prevent a problem
Profundaplasty: technique of opening a narrowing in an artery of the leg
R
Renal: of or pertaining to the kidney
S
Saphenous vein: a superficial vein in the leg, often used as a conduit during bypass operations. Occasionally associated with varicosities.
Sensory nerves: nerves which conduct sensation or feeling
Sonograms: short for ultrasonogram (ultrasound)
Stenosis: a stricture or narrowing of an artery or vein
Stenting: the process of placing a stent
Stent: a catheter lying within the lumen of a tubular structure (ie blood vessel) used to provide support or assure patency of an intact but contracted lumen
Stroke: any impairment of cerebral circulation lasting more than 24 hours. Usually involves irreversible brain damage (unlike a TIA).
Surgical bypass: diversion of blood flow around an occluded or narrowed blood vessel to a more distal normal vessel.
Surgical stripping: usually referring to removal of the greater saphenous vein for treatment of lower extremity varicosities.
Sympathectomy: excision of a segment of a sympathetic nerve. Previously thought to improve blood flow to the innervated extremity, now most frequently performed to treat cases of polyhidrosis (ie excessive or profuse sweating in the palms or soles).
Symptomatic Carotid Stenosis: A narrowing or stenosis in the carotid artery which becomes clinically apparent as either a stroke or transient ischemic attack (see TIA).
T
Thoracic: in the chest cavity
Thoracoabdominal: in the chest and abdominal cavities
Thrombophlebitis: inflammation of the veins with thrombus(blood clot) formation Thrombophlebitis can occur in both deep veins and superficial veins, but most often occurs in the superficial veins of extremities, most commonly the legs.
TIA: transient ischemic attack (TIA) is injury to the brain caused by a decrease in blood supply to an area of the brain. The attack lasts less than 24 hours, usually less than 10 minutes. The symptoms are neurologic, with weakness of one side of the body, inability to talk, blindness in one eye. TIA is also known as a "ministroke". If the symptoms last longer than 24 hours, it is a stroke.
Trivex powered phlebectomy technique: Transilluminated powered phlebectomy removes varicose veins using a small surgical device attached to a suction catheter while viewing the vein using an illuminating light.
U
Ulcers: open wounds occurring below the knee that will not heal due to venous insufficiency. Symptoms of venous ulcers include a large, red, non-healing wound in a swollen leg. These ulcers most often affect people with varicose veins.
Ultrasound: medical imaging technique that uses high frequency sound waves and their echoes in order to visualize anatomy. Doppler ultrasound can measure blood flow characteristics as well as anatomy and gives valuable vascular information quickly and without radiation.
V
Varicose Veins: dilated, tortuous superficial veins typically occurring in the legs. They are caused by incompetence of the valves within the superficial veins. As these valves become more incompetent, blood backs up and causes dilatation of superficial veins. While these veins are not harmful, they may lead to swelling, discoloration, and discomfort in the lower extremities.
Vasospastic: localized vessel contraction affecting blood supply and return to an area.
VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor): one of the most important endothelial growth factors. It induces and helps regulate angiogenesis and endothelial cell proliferation. Angiogenesis is a process of new blood vessel development from pre-existing vasculature.
Vein: blood vessel that returns deoxygenated blood to the heart. Valves in the vein open to allow the blood to pass through and close to prevent reflux, or the backward flow of blood.
Venacava: a major blood vessel that returns deoxygenated blood to the right atrium of the heart.
Vertebral arteries: These paired arteries provide blood flow to the brain along with the carotid arteries. The vertebral arteries converge beyond the base of the skull to form the basilar artery. The
vertebrobasilar system supplies blood to the brainstem, cerebellum, and occipital lobes
VNUS Closure Device: a minimally invasive treatment alternative to vein stripping surgery for venous reflux. The procedure is done by placing a small catheter into the vein to deliver radiofrequency energy to the vein wall, causing it to collapse and seal shut.
