Endovascular & Vascular Surgery
in San Bernardino & Riverside

Call to book an appointment: (909) 747-0371 or fill out the request form below

Cal Med Ambulatory vascular Surgery Center Exterior San Bernardino

Treatment of vascular disease

Your blood vessels are your lifeline carrying oxygen-rich blood via your veins to your heart; the freeway of your circulatory system. You do not want to create your own traffic jam with the hardening of your arteries. Cal Med Physicians and Surgeons have specialists to make sure you stay on the right road.

Our San Bernardino vascular surgeons provide treatment through surgery on diagnosed patients with diseases of the arterial, venous and lymphatic systems (excluding the intracranial and coronary arteries). The purpose of vascular surgery is to treat vascular diseases, which are diseases of the arteries and veins.

Arterial disease is a condition in which blood clots, arteriosclerosis and other vascular conditions occur in the arteries. Venous disease concern problems that occur in the veins. Some vascular conditions occur only in arteries, only in the veins, or in both veins and arteries.

San Bernardino Vascular surgery patient model touching her face San Bernardino Endovascualr Surgery patient model running outside San Bernardino Vascular Surgery patient models smiling outside

What is vascular disease?

Vascular disease is any abnormal condition dealing with the blood vessels, in particular the arteries and the veins. Vascular surgery becomes necessary when there is blockage in the arteries, which carry blood to different parts of the body. When there is blockage in the artery, the blood supply is restricted or blocked leading to important organs such as the heart.

Anyone is vulnerable to vascular disease, including people who are obese or suffer from type 2 diabetes. It can start as early as having atherosclerosis in adolescence. If your blood does not circulate properly, it can lead to all kinds of problems such as disability and even death. It can strike anytime or anyone.

Vascular Disease Causes & Symptoms:

Atherosclerosis

Cause: When plaque accumulates in the inner lining of arteries, the flow of blood to a specific organ or area of the body becomes restricted or even blocked that can lead to blood clots, oxygen deprivation and a stroke.

Symptoms: There are different warning signs that may or may not show up depending on the circumstances. You may experience chest pain, a heart attack or a stroke. It depends on the location of the diseases artery.

Buerger’s Disease

Cause: Also known as Thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO), Buerger's disease is a rare disorder in which there is blockage of arteries in the lower parts of the arms and legs caused by inflammation of the artery wall. The arteries become inflamed cutting the blood supply to the fingers and toes resulting in pain even when resting.

Symptoms: You can feel pain in the hands and feet even when at rest and in the leg and foot when walking or exercising. The pain becomes constant, even at night when trying to sleep.

Carotid Artery Disease

Cause: This condition sees the accumulation of plaque because the arteries have become narrow or now blocked. Carotid artery disease is similar to peripheral artery disease and coronary artery disease with a slow build-up of plaque in the arteries decreasing blood flow to the brain that can result in a stroke. This would require vascular surgery. If there is a lack of blood flow for more than three or more hours, brain damage can become permanent. According to the National Stroke Council, carotid artery disease is one of the most common causes of stroke, more than half of the strokes in the United States.

Symptoms: Unfortunately, there is usually no advance warning with early forms of carotid artery disease. A TIA or a mini-stroke may be one of the first signs. Some of the symptoms may include blurring, difficulty with speech, dimming, loss of vision, numbness in one area of the body, severe headaches, tingling around the mouth, or being unable to move an arm or leg normally.

Chronic Venous Insufficiency

Cause: Blockage in the veins or functionality in the vein valves can cause chronic venous insufficiency. When the valves cannot allow blood to flow against gravity from the legs up to the heart, and the flow reverses, the vein valves can be damaged. Varicose veins can develop after a traumatic injury but, most often, are hereditary.

Symptoms: The most common trait of a chronic venous insufficiency is the swelling of the ankle and foot that moves up the lower leg. There can be skin changes such as discoloration, eczema, scarring, and ulceration as well as bleeding from varicose veins. It is also possible to develop blood clots or thrombophlebitis.

Diabetes

Cause: The link between diabetes and vascular disease is undeniable: most diabetics die from vascular disease, up to four times higher than adults without diabetes. There are several types of diabetes, each one preventing the body from producing insulin properly. Diabetes can pose serious health issues such as blindness, dead tissue that result in infection and even amputation, heart attack, severe kidney disease, and stroke.

Symptoms: Some of the symptoms can include chest pain, excessive thirst, extreme hunger, frequent urination, increased fatigue, irritability, sores on your feet, and unexpected weight loss. You may also experience blurry vision and floating spots in your vision and loss of feeling or a burning sensation in your hands or feet.

Lymphedema

Cause: Lymphedema can occur when damage is done to the lymph vessels in the arms and the legs. There can be severe swelling when lymph fluid accumulates in the tissues of the arm or leg. There are a variety of factors that can cause lymphedema, including infections, injuries, cancer and treatment of cancer, radiation therapy, and other surgical procedures.

Symptoms: The most common symptoms for lymphedema are severe swelling of an arm or leg. It can extend from the arm or leg into the fingers or toes. The skin can have a red or orange appearance in the later stages of the disease. The swelling can become so severe as to make some daily activities or exercise difficult.

Endovascular Imaging in San Bernardino
san bernardino vascular surgeon with a patient
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Here are the top 5 arteries that can cause problems:

  • Arch branches can be responsible for strokes as it supplies blood to the brain through the carotid arteries.
  • Coronary arteries can cause heart attacks by blocking the flow of blood to the heart.
  • Femoral arteries can create problems in the calf muscles and the foot as it supplies blood to the legs.
  • Iliac arteries provide blood to the hips and legs with complications that can lead to claudication, pain in the leg when walking.
  • Renal arteries can cause high blood pressure and even kidney failure as it supplies blood to the kidneys.

Other Types of Vascular Diseases

There are many other types of vascular diseases, including arteriovenous malformation, congenital vascular malformation, fibromuscular dysplasia, kidney failure and vascular disease, mesenteric artery disease, portal hypertension, post-thrombotic syndrome, Raynaud’s Disease, renal artery stenosis, renovascular hypertension, stroke, thoracic aortic aneurysm, thrombophilia, varicose veins, vascular dementia, and vasculitis. 

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What is endovascular surgery?

An endovascular procedure is a minimally invasive surgical technique that treats an assortment of diseases and which allows surgeons to use the major blood vessels to access the specific affected body part. A surgeon inserts a catheter through a tiny incision in the skin using a major blood vessel where the procedure will take place and the area that needs surgery. The most common blood vessel used for a surgery is the femoral artery or an artery near a joint.

In San Bernardino and Riverside endovascular surgery is a versatile technique for today’s surgeons because it can treat many diseases in different parts of the body in a minimally invasive way that is safer and offers minimal risk and shorter recovery time.

Vascular Disease Causes & Symptoms:

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Cause: the aortic wall is greatly reduced and weakened allowing an aneurysm to grow and potentially rupture if not diagnosed and treated. The aortic is the largest artery in the body carrying blood from the heart to every other part of the body making it the most susceptible to aneurysms.

Symptoms: no major symptoms with the majority of aneurysms discovered from diagnostic tests for other health issues. Possible symptoms can include abdominal, back or side pain, or numbness in the hands and feet.

Aortic Dissection

Cause: when two inner layers of the aortic wall separate from each other with the original blood flow and a new blood flow, it can create complications with decrease in blood flow to many of the important organs and tissues. By diverting the blood flow, the “branches” can end up affecting arteries leading to the brain, the kidney, the gut, and other areas. Most importantly, it can endanger the blood flow to the heart leaving the patient vulnerable to a heart attack.

Symptoms: Be aware of abrupt, sharp or pain that feels like it migrates in your body, especially in the abdomen, back, chest, and leg. 

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

Cause: This condition occurs when a blood clot or thrombus develops in the large veins of the legs or pelvic area which may or may not cause any pain. It can be life-threatening and become an embolus, which is when a clot breaks free and moves through the vein. For example, an embolus can travel from one area of the body into a lung artery and create a pulmonary embolism, which can be a fatal condition if not treated early.

Symptoms: deep vein thrombosis can be a difficult condition to recognize with symptoms developing slowly or suddenly. Look for pain in the leg, tenderness in the calf muscles, or any change in color, especially purple or blue, in a leg. Other possible symptoms can include chest pain, cough, feel like fainting, rapid pulse, shortness of breath, or sudden swelling of one limb.

High Blood Pressure

Cause: One in four adults have high blood pressure, which can result in blindness, heart attack, heart failure, kidney failure, and stroke. There are different factors that cause high blood pressure, including family history, age (after 35 in men and after 45 in women), smoking, and race.

Symptoms: High blood pressure is referred to as the silent killer for the reason that there are no symptoms and most people discover too late when there are problems with their brain, heart or kidney.

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)

Cause: This disease becomes prominent when the lining of the arteries thicken and plaque builds up that eventually blocks blood flow to a specific organ or area of the body. The results can be blood clots and strokes.

Symptoms: Many people never experience any symptoms with peripheral artery disease. But you may feel painful cramping in several areas, especially the hips, calves and thighs, when performing daily activities. Here are some of the symptoms to look for with this disease: absence or thin hair, decrease in temperature in your lower foot or leg, or cramping type of pain when you stop exercising.

Pulmonary Embolism

Cause: A pulmonary embolism is a blood clot that forms in one area of the body such as the arm or leg and ends up in the lung arteries. The majority of pulmonary embolisms start in the upper leg and pelvic area. It can impair heart muscle like the right ventricle that pumps blood into the lung arteries.

Symptoms: unfortunately, most people die from a pulmonary embolism with an hour after any symptoms show up. Pulmonary embolism is known to imitate congestive heart failure, pleurisy and pneumonia. The most common symptom is sudden shortness of breath, difficulty breathing and chest pain. There may also be coughing up for blood, dizziness, sweating or sudden  collapse.

Why Choose Cal Med Physicians and Surgeons?

Cal Med Physicians and Surgeons is a premier surgical provider group whose mission is to offer the highest quality health care to residents of the Inland Empire.

Formerly known as Arrowhead Community Surgical Medical Group, Inc., Cal Med is a unique group with approximately 35 licenses and board certified surgeons. Our roster includes many of the best neurosurgeons, ophthalmologists, ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists, oral, general and vascular surgeons San Bernardino County has to offer.

Our San Bernardino and Riverside surgeons serve as the main surgical providers (except for orthopedics) at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, including in the level 2 trauma center and regional burn center, and provide surgical services at Community Hospital of San Bernardino and Redlands Community Hospital. Our neurosurgeons provide services not only at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, but also at Riverside University Health System Medical Center and Desert Regional Medical Center.

Our president, Dev Gnanadev, M.D., is an associate medical director and chairman of the surgery department at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center.

Please contact our office by phone or complete the appointment request form. Our scheduling coordinator will contact you to confirm your appointment.

Call us Today (909) 747-0371