Austin Vascular and Vein Specialists
Austin Vascular and Vein Specialists
Austin Vascular and Vein Specialists is a medical and surgical practice in Austin and Round Rock Texas that specializes in the management of circulation diseases throughout the body. We specialize in restoring blood flow in damaged or diseased arteries and veins. We are composed of a Vascular Center in which we treat arterial disease conditions and a Vein Center in which we treat such conditions as blood clots within veins (ie DVT and SVT), varicose veins, spider veins, and Ma-Thurner Syndrome.
Vascular Center of Austin Vascular and Vein Specialists
The Vascular Center of Austin Vascular and Vein Specialists is focused on treatment of arterial disease conditions. The arterial diseases that most commonly affect the circulation include aneurysms, atherosclerosis, dissections, and blood clots. Atherosclerosis of the arteries is also referred to as “hardening of the arteries. This develops in some individuals as a process of aging, The plaque of atherosclerosis is composed predominantly of lipids, cholesterol, and calcium. Atherosclerotic plaque causes narrowing and occlusions within arterial blood vessels. As this occurs it leads to diminished blood flow to the organs in which arteries travel. Atherosclerosis also predisposes to artery blood clots forming within these vessels.
Atherosclerosis frequently affects the arteries of the pelvis and legs. It less commonly affects the arms. When the artery plaque develops within extremity blood vessels is is referred to as peripheral artery disease (PAD) or peripheral vascular disease (ie PVD). It also often goes to the simple term of “poor circulation.” Peripheral artery disease can cause leg pain at rest, leg pain or cramps with walking (referred to as claudication), numbness in the foot or legs, ankle, foot, toes, or fingers, , other poorly healing wounds on the extremities, and sometimes even gangrene of the hand or foot. If a blood clot occurs in an extremity then this a surgical emergency and requires immediate operative therapy.
Atherosclerosis also frequently affects the carotid arteries, vertebral arteries, and cerebral arteries. If severe enough disease is present then this can lead to TIA or stroke. People with this condition are defined as having carotid artery stenosis, vertebral artery stenosis, or cerebrovascular disease. This condition is often detected with screening ultrasounds, CT scans, or MRI studies. This aatherosclerotic disease can often be successfully treated with angioplasty, stents, or endarterectomy surgery.
Our vascular center also has a focus on the treatment of aneurysm disease of the arterial circulation. An aneurysm is a pathological process in which an artery wall begins to thin out, stretch, and balloon out. This can lead to life-threatening bleeding if the blood vessel ruptures. Aortic aneurysm is one such condition. The abdominal aortic aneurysm is one of the most deadly and dangerous types of arterial aneurysm. Aneurysms can also lead to unpredictable blood clotting within the arterial circulation, most frequently in the legs.
Aneurysm disease can be very dangerous since the problem is most commonly asymptomatic until a complication such as a rupture with bleeding or a blood clot forms within the aneurysm. There are typically no warning signs or symptoms to allow someone to know that a aneurysm is present in their body. Most aneurysms are discovered by physical exam or by screening with ultrasound, CT scan or MRI. Aneurysm conditions can often be repaired with an endovascular catheter procedure referred to as a stent-graft. Another option is open surgical repair.
Risk factors for atherosclerosis, peripheral artery disease, carotid artery disease, and aneurysms include advanced age, smoking history, family history of these conditions, chronic hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, and high lipid levels. Those with risk factors should be considered for screening studies by a vascular specialist.
Vein Center of Austin Vascular and Vein Specialists
The Vein Center of Austin Vascular and Vein Specialists focuses on the management of venous diseases. This includes the treatment and removal of painful and unsightly varicose veins and spider veins of the legs. We used the latest modern technologies such as laser, radiofrequency ablation, sclerotherapy, Varithena, Venseal, and micro phlebectomy vein surgery to remove veins. We perform cosmetic therapies for small spider veins as well as medical therapies for larger varicose veins and venous reflux disease.
In addition to varicose veins and spider veins, we also treat all of the more severe vein conditions as well. We are experts in the management of Deep Venous Thrombosis (ie DVT) and superificial venous thrombosis (ie phlebitis and thrombophlebitis). We provide management with medications and also offer interventional therapies. Interventional therapies can be indicated in cases of more severe blood clots or when the blood clot has resulted in severe scar damage to a blood vessel after the clot has been medically treated. Interventional therapies for blood clots can include angioplasty, stents, angiograms, catheter thrombolysis, and thrombectomy surgery.
We are also considered the local experts in the diagnosis and management of May-Turner Syndrome. This is a chronic venous condition that can lead to DVT blood clots, chronic leg pain, chronic leg swelling, or chronic pelvic pain.
Ultrasound Center and Vascular Imaging Department
Our Vascular and Vein Center is also equipped with a full-time ultrasound and vascular imaging department. We perform ultrasounds of the arteries and veins throughout the body. We have a team composed of a Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation (RPVI) as well as a Registered Vascular Technologist (ie RVT). We have decades of experience in performing and interpreting vascular imaging studies. This includes carotid artery duplex ultrasound, peripheral artery ultrasounds of the arms and legs, aneurysm ultrasounds throughout the body, dialysis access ultrasounds for AV grafts and AV fistulas, imaging of vascular malformations / venous malformations, venous reflux ultrasound studies to assess the saphenous veins and perforator veins, ultrasounds assessing for Deep Venous Thrombosis, Superficial Phlebitis, and May-Thurner Syndrome, evaluation of varicose vein disease, and ultrasound workup for extremity pain or swelling in the arms and legs.
We also performs ankle brachial index (ABI) studies and segmental pressure studies of the arms and legs. We do exercise treadmill testing to assess cardiovascular disease as well.
Contact Our Vascular and Vein Centers
To schedule an appointment at one of our facilities in Austin or Round Rock Texas, call (512) 964-8346 or use the “Contact Us” link on this website.
