Dilatation or enlargement of the abdominal aorta, the main abdominal artery. Large AAA carry a risk of rupture.
Acute
A sudden onset of a medical condition.
Aethoxysclerol
A drug used for sclerotherapy. The drug irritates the lining of veins and facilitates clot formation that helps the body to remove the vein.
Amaurosis Fugax
A term to describe the loss of vision or part vision from one eye due to embolization from carotid artery plaque.
Anastomosis
Surgical procedure of joining two blood vessels or a blood vessel and a graft together. This is usually a hand sutured join between the two structures.
Aneurysm
A dilated or enlarged blood vessel that may pose a risk of rupture.
Angiography
The process of injecting dye into blood vessels to obtain an image of those blood vessels to diagnoses disease and facilitate endovascular treatment.
Angioplasty
An intervention where a balloon is used to stretch a narrowed blood vessel open to improve the flow of blood through that vessel. The balloon is removed once the vessel has been stretched.
Aorta
The large blood vessel that arises directly from the heart and passes down through the chest and into the abdomen.
Anti-platelet Medication
A drug that reduces the stickiness of platelets in the blood stream. Platelets can stick to arterial disease and cause blood vessels to block or embolise. Aspirin and Clopidogrel are common examples.
Arterial Disease
Any process that affects the normal function of an artery. Often used to refer to the build-up of atherosclerotic plaque within arteries, the most common cause of arterial disease.
Arterio-Venous Fistula (AVF)
A surgical join between an artery and a vein to create a fistula that allows easy and repeated access to blood vessels for purposes of blood collection or dialysis.
Artery
A blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body to supply oxygen and nutrients.
Aspirin
A drug used to reduce the stickiness of platelets in the blood stream.
Atherosclerosis
A disease process where cholesterol laden plaque builds up within the wall of a blood vessel narrowing the channel where blood flows and reducing the blood flow to the body’s tissues.
B
Balloon Angioplasty
An intervention where a balloon is used to stretch a narrowed blood vessel open to improve the flow of blood through that vessel. The balloon is removed once the vessel has been stretched.
Bypass
A surgical procedure to improve blood flow around a blocked artery. This may involve using the patient’s own vein or an artificial graft to carry blood around the blockage.
C
Carotid Artery
A major blood vessel in the neck that supplies blood to the head, neck, and brain.
Carotid Body Tumour
A type of tumour involving the carotid arteries. Is usually benign but may increase is size and cause compression of surrounding structures.
Chronic
A term to describe a long-standing medical condition.
Claudication
A typical symptom of arterial disease in the legs, where muscle pain develops after walking and limits the distance able to be walked.
Clopidogrel
A drug used to reduce the stickiness of platelets in the bloodstream.
Clot
A clot is the term used to describe coagulated blood that has formed into a solid. Fresh clot is quite soft and jelly like whereas chronic clot is hard and rubbery.
Conduit
The tube that is used for the bypass during bypass surgery. May be the patient’s own vein or prosthetic material.
Connective Tissue Disorder
A group of diseases that affect the strength of connective tissue (Collagen, Elastin) that weaken blood vessel walls and predispose to the development of aneurysms and dissections.
Contrast
Xray dye that is injected into blood vessels to provide an image of those blood vessels to facilitate diagnosis and treatment.
Covered Stent
A stent with a fabric covering that is used to treat damaged or aneurysmal blood vessels as the fabric allows the stent to seal the artery.
CT Scan
A highly detailed series of X-ray images.
CVA (Cerebro-Vascular Accident)
A stroke where damage has occurred to brain tissue.
D
Dacron
A polyester material used to make prosthetic or artificial grafts used for bypass surgery.
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
Formation of clotted blood inside the deep veins of the leg, pelvis or arms. Can lead to permanent damage to those veins and risk of clot embolising to the lungs a potentially very dangerous condition.
Diabetic Foot Infection
A common type of infection found in diabetics due to a combination of sensory loss, infection and arterial disease. Can be very dangerous and pose a significant risk of amputation.
Diabetes
A metabolic disease characterised by high blood sugar levels. Is associated with a high risk of developing arterial disease.
Dialysis
The treatment for Kidney (renal) failure, where blood is removed from the patient and ‘cleaned’ in a dialysis machine before being given back to the patient.
Dialysis Access
Refers to the development of arterio-venous fistula that allow haemodialysis to occur.
Dissection
A tearing injury to a blood vessel that leads to blood flowing within the wall of the artery, creating 2 channels of blood flow.
Drain
A surgical tube that is placed into wounds to collect any blood or fluid that may form.
Drug Coated Balloon
A type of angioplasty balloon that is coated with a drug used during angioplasty. The drug is designed to reduce the risk of restenosis and is most commonly used where restenosis has already occurred.
E
Eczema
A skin rash. May be associated with varicose veins and is then referred to as venous eczema, a rash that develops around the ankle region.
Embolic Protection Device
A type of filter placed within arteries to capture dislodged pieces of plaque during endovascular procedures.
Embolisation
May refer to either the treatment of arterial disease by intentionally inserting materials to block or occlude a blood vessel or to the movement of a clot (clotted blood) from one site to another such as a DVT moving to the lungs.
Endarterectomy
A surgical procedure where the abnormal plaque that is inside the artery wall is removed leaving the outer layers of the artery intact, that can be sutured back together. This returns the blood flow channel back to a normal size.
Endoleak
Persistent blood flow into an aneurysm following stent or surgical treatment.
Endovascular
The technique of treating blood vessel disease from inside the blood vessel to minimise wounds and speed up recovery. (Keyhole Surgery).
Endovenous
A technique of treating venous abnormalities (mostly varicose veins) from inside the vein to minimise wounds and improve recovery. (Keyhole surgery).
F
False Aneurysm
A collection of blood adjacent to an artery where there is flow in and out of the artery wall. Most commonly occurs after angiographic procedures but may develop from any type of trauma. Can be painful and slowly increase in size without treatment.
Fibro-Muscular Dysplasia (FMD)
A disorder of blood vessels characterised by web like narrowing’s and small aneurysms.
G
Gangrene
Dead tissue due to a lack of blood flow.
General Anaesthesia
This is the type of anaesthesia where you are in a sleep like state for the operation or procedure.
H
Haematoma
A large bruise or collection of blood following a bleeding episode.
Haemodialysis
The process of dialysis where a patient’s blood is passed through a dialysis machine to act as an artificial kidney.
Haemorrhage
Medical term for bleeding.
Hypercholesterolaemia
Elevated cholesterol levels that may predispose to arterial disease.
Hypertension
High blood pressure.
I
Incompetence
A term used to describe the failure of the valves inside veins. The valves become leaky and allow blood flow in the wrong direction, increasing pressure inside the veins. The main cause of varicose veins.
Infection
Bacterial contamination of wound or grafts leading to sepsis, tissue loss and damage. May be localised but can spread to the entire body.
Intimal Hyperplasia
Development of scar like material inside blood vessels that can lead to re-narrowing and a recurrence of symptoms due to reduced blood flow.
Ischaemia
A reduction or lack of blood flow to tissues. If severe ischaemia occurs, tissue will start to die and ulcerate or become gangrenous.
Ileus
A paralysis of the bowel after major abdominal surgery. Usually recovers after 2-3 days, but will limit oral intake for that time period.
L
Laser Ablation
An endovenous treatment for varicose veins that uses the heat from a Laser catheter to heat the abnormal vein and allow it to shrivel away.
LAWS
Local Anaesthesia With Sedation (LAWS) is a process of performing the procedure by numbing the local area and using sedation so that the patient is not aware of the procedure.
Local Anaesthesia
This is where the procedure is performed by numbing the area to undergo surgery. The patient is no asleep for the procedure. This is often combined with sedation (LAWS) and most patients would not recall the procedure.
Long Saphenous Veins
Large superficial vein used as a conduit for bypass surgery and also a common cause of varicose veins.
M
MRI Scan
A detailed type of scan that utilises magnetic fields to create images.
N
Neuralgia
Nerve irritation that can produce a burning sensation or shooting pains.
O
Occlusion
A blockage of a blood vessel, stent or bypass graft.
Oedema
Swelling of the legs or arms due to the collection of fluid in the tissues. Many causes including heart failure, kidney or liver disease, varicose veins and fluid overload.
P
Paraganglioma
A type of carotid body tumour. Usually benign but can slowly grow and produce a mass in the neck.
Patch
Surgical patches are used to repair arteries or veins that are not suitable to close directly. May be artificial or made from the patient’s own veins.
PCA – Patient Controlled Anaesthesia
A PCA is an intravenous infusion of pain relief medications where the patient can press a button to administer a dose of pain relief as required.
Pelvic Congestion Syndrome
A collection of symptoms due to incompetence of the ovarian veins. May cause pelvic pain and varicose veins.
Perforator Vein
A vein joining the superficial veins in the leg directly to the deeper veins. Usually contain a valve directing blood flow towards the deep veins and may cause varicose veins if that valve becomes incompetent.
Peripheral Artery
A medical term to describe arteries in the legs and arms.
Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)
The build-up of atherosclerotic plaque within the artery wall reducing blood flow.
Peritoneal dialysis
The process of dialysis where fluid is placed into the abdominal cavity to help remove toxic products that would usually be removed by the kidneys.
Pigmentation
Brown skin discolouration associated with venous incompetence and superficial venous thrombosis. Not dangerous in itself but often associated with skin damage and eventual ulceration.
Post-Phlebitic Syndrome
A chronic condition of the lower leg associated with venous valve incompetence following previous thrombosis. May lead to swelling, pigmentation, and ulceration.
Prosthetic
Artificial. Mainly used to describe a graft used for bypass surgery.
PTFE
A type of prosthetic or artificial graft made out of GORE-TEX and used to replace diseased arteries.
Pulmonary Embolus
Clotted blood that has moved to the lungs. Dangerous as it interferes with lung function and reduces the efficient transfer of oxygen into the blood stream. Large pulmonary emboli can be fatal. Treatment is blood thinning medications (anticoagulation).
R
Radio-Frequency Ablation (RFA)
A minimally invasive endovenous treatment for varicose veins that utilises radio-frequency energy to heat the abnormal vein that causes the vein to shrivel away.
Restenosis
Re-narrowing of an artery or vein following previous treatment.
S
Saphenous Vein
Superficial vein in the leg that often causes varicose veins. Also used as a conduit for bypass surgery.
Sclerotherapy
A treatment of varicose or spider veins where a drug is injected into a vein to damage the veins and allow the body to slowly re-absorb that vein.
Sepsis
Infection of tissues due to bacterial overgrowth.
Short Saphenous Vein
Superficial vein in the calf that is a common cause of varicose veins.
Spider Vein
An abnormal surface vein that are visible under the skin.
Statin
A group of drugs used to reduce cholesterol levels and stabilise arterial plaque.
Steal
Usually occurs where too much blood passes through an AV fistula and not enough continues to reach the patients hand or fingers. May result in pain, numbness or ulceration.
Stenosis
Narrowing of a blood vessel. Reduces flow to the tissues supplied by that blood vessel. May affect arteries or veins.
Stent
A metallic device inserted into blood vessels to increase the size of the flow channel and improve blood flow through that particular blood vessel. Some stents have a fabric covering and are used to help seal traumatised arteries or aneurysms.
Stent Graft
A type of stent with a graft like fabric on the outside of the stent to provide a seal of a damaged or aneurysmal artery. Mainly used to refer to aortic aneurysm stents.
Stripping
A surgical procedure where the Long or Short saphenous vein is surgically removed.
Stroke
A CVA, where damage has occurred to brain tissue. May develop due to bleeding, lack of blood flow or embolization to the brain.
Superficial Thrombo-Phlebitis (STP)
The development of blood clots inside a varicose vein. Mush less likely to embolise when compared with deep vein clots but can travel along veins and develop into a DVT.
Surveillance
Process of monitoring grafts, aneurysms and blood vessel abnormalities that may slowly progress over time.
Suture
Surgical stitch used to repair blood vessels and close wounds. Comes in a wide variety of sizes and types.
T
TIA (Transient Ischaemic Attack)
A stroke like event where symptoms have resolved in less than 24 hours.
Thoracic Aorta
The aorta as it passes through the chest,
Thrombin
A normal component of blood that is part of the normal coagulation pathway. Concentrated thrombin can be injected to help stop arterial bleeding, most commonly used for false aneurysm treatment.
Thrombosis
A term to describe the process of a blood vessel being blocked or occluded due to the formation of clotted blood.
Thrombus
A thrombus is a term to describe clotted or coagulated blood that has formed into a solid.
U
Ulcer
An ulcer is a non-healing wound. May be associated with arterial or venous disease.
Ultrasound
A type of imaging that utilises ultrasonic sound waves to generate images. Very useful in assessing blood flow.
V
Varicose Vein
An abnormal dilated vein.
Vascular
A medical term referring to blood vessels and the circulatory system.
Vein
A blood vessel that’s primary role is to return blood to the heart and lungs.
Vein Stripping
A surgical procedure where the Long or Short saphenous vein is surgically removed.
Venous Eczema
A rash that develops due to the higher pressure in abnormal varicose veins. Usually develops just above the ankle region and is a risk factor for ulcer development.
Venous Incompetence
Veins contain one-way valves inside them to direct blood flow towards the heart. Incompetence is where the valves become leaky and allow flow in the wrong direction, increasing the pressure inside the veins, leading to dilatation and the development of varicose veins and their complications.
Venous Ulcer
Ulceration of the lower leg region associated with Venous Incompetence. Often large and difficult to heal.
X
Xray
Imaging used to obtain pictures of tissues and organs.
Xray Dye
The contrast media that is injected into blood vessels so that they will show up on Xray imaging and allow appropriate endovascular treatment.
