Vascular surgery in Nottingham

Veins, arteries, and capillaries carry blood around your body, providing oxygen and nutrients and removing waste products. Veins carry blood towards the heart, while arteries carry it away.

Vascular surgery investigates and treats problems with the blood vessels (apart from those in the heart and the head, which are managed by cardiologists and neurosurgeons respectively). A doctor specialising in this field is a Consultant Vascular Surgeon. 

In addition to varicose vein treatments, our on-site Intensive Care Unit allows us to safely carry out advanced vascular treatments like:

• Carotid endarterectomy - done to remove a build-up of fatty deposits in a carotid artery
• Repair of aortic aneurysm – including endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR)
• Femoro-popliteal bypass surgery (“fem pop bypass”) 

At The Park Hospital, experienced Consultants assess, investigate, diagnose, and treat damage to or diseases of these vessels. They would be delighted to help you too. 

Common reasons people come to us for help include: 

• Pain or cramping in the legs 
• Swelling in the legs or ankles 
• Itching legs 
• Cosmetic issues 

Problems can occur within both the arteries and veins. Peripheral arterial disease (PAD), also known as peripheral vascular disease (PVD), is a narrowing of the blood vessels supplying the limbs. This affects the blood flow to the limb. A small narrowing may not cause any obvious symptoms, while a more significant narrowing may cause: 

• Pain in the muscles of the leg – this often becomes worse after walking
• Legs or arms feeling tired and/or weaker 
• Ulcers developing on the legs 
• Numbness in the feet or toes 

Whether you’re struggling with pain in your legs after walking or frustrated with the appearance of your legs due to varicose veins, our experienced Consultant Vascular Surgeons are here to help you.

Veins contain special one-way valves to stop blood flowing back the wrong way. If these valves are damaged and stop working properly, pressure can build up in the vessels. 

Should anything cause the pressure in the superficial (smaller and closer to the skin) veins in your leg to build up, they will twist and enlarge, eventually causing blue or dark purple lines to appear on the leg. These are known as varicose veins.  

Sometimes smaller veins are affected, causing a thin, spider-like appearance on the legs. These are known as thread veins or spider veins.  

Although varicose veins and thread veins are not life-threatening conditions, they can be unsightly, and many people find their confidence and self-image is affected by them. Clothing may be chosen specifically because it covers up the legs and prevents the varicose veins from being seen.  

Varicose veins will not go away without medical intervention. Indeed, left untreated they will often become larger and more prominent over time. 

If you are unhappy with your varicose veins, effective treatments are available to improve the appearance of your legs. At The Park Hospital, we can arrange an appointment for you with an experienced Consultant to discuss treatment options.  

Years ago, the only surgical option for treating varicose veins was invasive “open” surgery. Fortunately, advances in minimally invasive vascular surgery now allow more flexible treatment options, with far quicker recovery times.  

Varicose veins can be treated at The Park Hospital by

• Radiofrequency ablation - also known as VNUS closure procedure/Venefit) 
• Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy - a solution is injected directly into the blood vessels under ultrasound guidance to seal them up 
• Endovenous laser treatment (EVLT) of varicose veins uses a laser to close off the blood flow in the affected vein 
• ClariVein® treatment - seals the vein without causing pain or bruising 

Our Consultant Vascular Surgeons are highly experienced in treating varicose veins. Diagnostic scans at your initial consultation (see section below) will help determine the most appropriate treatment option for you, and you will then be able to discuss with you Consultant how you would like to proceed. 

When you first meet with your Consultant at The Park Hospital, they will take a detailed medical history and talk with you about your symptoms. They may ask you questions like: 

• What symptoms have you been experiencing? 
• When did they start/when did you first start noticing them?  
• Do you have any pain? If so, can you describe it?  
• Have any of symptoms become worse over time? 

They will perform a physical examination of your leg, investigating all possible causes of the physical symptoms you have. A duplex ultrasound scan is usually carried out during the consultation. Ultrasound is invaluable for many vascular conditions and can help indicate the best treatment option for you.  

If arterial disease is suspected, you may be referred for an MRI or CT scan to better assess the health of the arteries.  

Leg pain can sometimes have a non-vascular cause, such as a spinal condition or damage to a joint. Your Consultant works closely with other specialists, including spinal and orthopaedic surgeons. Referral can be made quickly and easily on-site at The Park Hospital if required.  

While many of our vascular patients are from Nottingham and the surrounding areas, others travel from further afield, including Ravenshead, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Leicestershire. 

You may be referred to us by your GP, another specialist such as a spinal or orthopaedic surgeon, or by a friend or family member who has been helped by us previously.  

A medical referral can be helpful, although you can self-refer to avoid delay. We treat people with private medical insurance, although the majority of our vascular patients are self-pay.   

When you visit The Park Hospital in Nottingham, you will benefit from: 

• Rapid access to a leading expert – If you require medical intervention for a vascular condition, you’ll want to be seen as soon as possible. We can arrange a private appointment for you with an experienced Consultant Vascular Surgeon so that you can benefit from assessment, diagnosis, and treatment at the earliest possible stage.    
• Consultant-led care, always – We believe in a bespoke approach to any type of vascular treatment. Treatment will always be tailored to your specific needs and what would be best for you. You will always see the same Consultant and will never be treated by a junior doctor. 
• Experience you can trust – Our Consultants include leading vascular experts. Indeed, the depth of experience provided by our Vascular team is a major reason many people choose to visit us for their treatment.
• Teamwork – The staff at The Park Hospital work closely with one another to deliver exceptional care every day. Your Consultant is supported by an experienced team of healthcare professionals including radiologists, physiotherapists, anaesthetists, and nurses, to ensure the highest standards of care at all times. 
• Recommended by patients – In an independent survey, 98.8% of our patients said they would happily recommend The Park Hospital to their friends and family.  
• Convenient appointments – With private appointments available throughout the week, you’ll be able to book a time that suits your availability.  
• On-site parking - our 178-space car park means you won’t need to worry about where to park when you visit. 

Whether you would appreciate help for a pre-existing vascular condition or are experiencing new symptoms such as pain or swelling in your legs, our experienced Vascular team is here to help. A simple call to our friendly reception team is all that’s needed to book your private appointment. We look forward to welcoming you to The Park Hospital and helping you get the treatment you need.