Our objective:
freedom from symptoms.
Your quality of life takes priority.
Vascular diseases can have any one of an array of causes. They can be innate, for example. Or be associated with the patient’s lifestyle. Here, we list a few of the most frequent vascular diseases. Basically, the same applies to any illness symptoms you experience – have them investigated by a vascular specialist.
Common artery diseases
Arteriosclerosis
Acute blocked artery in the leg
Acute lack of circulation in the brain (stroke)
Chronic lack of blood flow in the leg (PAD)
Functional circulatory disorders
Further artery diseases
Arteriosclerosis
Pathological accumulation of cholesterol and other fats in the inner vascular wall layer.
Deposits build up on the walls (plaque) and constrictions (stenoses) form, through to vascular obliterations.
Symptoms:
Leg pain associated with movement, paralysis, angina pectoris/ cardiac pain
The most dangerous manifestation of arteriosclerosis is an acute blocked artery.
CAUTION: this is frequently an EMERGENCY!
Please contact us if you experience the symptoms described above!
Acute blocked artery in the leg
This is caused by a sudden vascular obliteration of a pre-existing constriction, or sometimes by a blood clot from the heart.
Symptoms:
Acute pain in the leg, one-sided blanching, a feeling of coldness in the leg
A sudden arterial circulatory disorder must be treated immediately, without any delay! Emergency!
Acute lack of circulation in the brain (stroke)
This is usually caused by a blood clot breaking away from an atherosclerosis, a constriction to the arteries supplying the brain or from the heart. Rarely, a stroke is caused by a brain haemorrhage.
Symptoms:
Symptoms of paralysis, speech disturbances, visual disturbances, unconsciousness
Therapy by means of blood thinning, a catheter intervention or an operation must be performed without delay! Emergency!
Chronic lack of blood flow in the leg (PAD)
Peripheral arterial disease PAD = exercise-related lack of oxygen to the leg musculature and pain caused by atherosclerosis/constrictions of the vessel.
Symptoms:
Exercise-related pain in the calf
Functional circulatory disorders
These are the results of a defective control of the vascular wall musculature by the nerves, without the presence of structural vessel damage.
Symptoms:
Temperature-related blanching of the toes/fingers (Raynaud’s phenomenon)
Further artery diseases
• Constrictions to the renal and mesenteric arteries
• Aneurysms (dilations) to the aorta/main artery and peripheral arteries
• Embolisms (formation of blood clots which break away into smaller vessels)
• Inflammatory vascular diseases (vasculitis)
• Compression of vessels by muscles or tendons from outside (so-called entrapment phenomenon)
• Compression caused by weaknesses to the vascular wall (cystic adventitial degeneration) from inside
• Vascular misformations and vascular tumors
• Compression of vessels and nerves caused by increased pressure in groups of muscles (compartment syndrome)
Frequent venous diseases
Vein thrombosis
Varicose veins (varicosis)
Chronic venous insufficiency:
chronic swelling of the leg, open leg (ulcus cruris)
Superficial inflammation
of the vein (thrombophlebitis)
Spider veins
Vein thrombosis
The most dangerous acute venous disease is the sudden obstruction of a deep vein caused by a blood clot.
Risks:
The blood clot can flush out into the lungs and block a pulmonary vessel (pulmonary embolism), open leg (ulcus cruris), causing long-term damage.
Symptoms:
Swelling of the leg, a dull ache, feeling of tension, pain walking, shortness of breath, coughing up blood (pulmonary embolism)
A vein thrombosis must be treated immediately. Emergency!
Varicose veins (varicosis)
Weakness of the superficial vein system with various types of manifestation.
Symptoms:
Visible varicose veins, swollen ankles, dark discolouration of the inner malleolus, feeling of heaviness
Chronic venous insufficiency: chronic swelling of the leg, open leg (ulcus cruris)
Leaky vein valves in the deep and/or superficial vein systems combined with a reduced venous pump function.
Consequence:
The used blood does not flow upwards to the heart, but rather back to the foot.
Symptoms:
Symptoms of congestion in the legs, such as in the form of swellings, progressive changes to the skin and, ultimately, an open leg/ulcers
(However, the open leg can also be the result of an arterial circulatory disorder).
Superficial inflammation of the vein (thrombophlebitis)
A blood clot forms in a superficial vein which, if left untreated, can sometimes become ingrown in the deep vein system.
Symptoms:
Painful hardening in a varicose vein, localised overheating, pressure pain, swelling
Spider veins
Harmless form of vein dilation.
Symptoms:
Generally asymptomatic, generally pain free over the life of the spider veins, frequently in combination with cellulitis
Disorders of the lymphatic system
Lymph oedema
St. Anthony’s fire (erysipelas)
Ulcer
Lymph oedema
Swelling of the leg caused by damage to the drainage of the lymphatic fluid can be the result of other illnesses (secondary lymph oedema), such as following an operation, or innate (primary).
Symptoms:
Swelling of the leg, feeling of heaviness, hardening of the skin, formation of ulcers
Erysipelas
Bacterial inflammation in the congested lymphatics.
Risk: blood poisoning
The erysipelas must be immediately treated with anti-biotics. Emergency!
Ulcer
Disturbance of growth to the skin with the formation of ulcers caused by chronically congested lymphatics and cracking of the skin.
Risk: infection
Diagnostics
Our specialists offer personal consultation, explain every single detail to you and recommend the best possible solution for your issue.
Therapy
Our approach to therapy: “Minimally invasive – maximally gentle”. Thanks to the latest treatment methods, open surgery can be avoided in most cases.
