Being referred to a vascular surgeon can be an anxiety-inducing experience. You may have plenty of questions about your vascular health, but you also may have questions about what an appointment with a vascular surgeon looks like.
At Cooper, we are committed to providing our patients with helpful resources to make their treatment journey as comfortable as possible. But even if you’re preparing to see a vascular surgeon outside of our network, we want you to make the most out of your first appointment with a vascular surgeon.
What does a vascular surgeon do?
A vascular surgeon diagnoses and treats medical conditions that impact the blood vessels, including arteries, lymph nodes, and veins. Vascular surgeons manage all conditions that impact the blood vessels except when they affect the heart and brain. A cardiologist manages heart-related vascular conditions, while a neurologist will treat any brain-related conditions.
You may be referred to a vascular surgeon if your primary care provider suspects you have one of the following conditions:
- Arterial blockage
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
- Peripheral vascular disease (PVD)
- Varicose veins
- Lymphedema
- Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA)
- Carotid artery disease
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)
Symptoms such as leg pain or cramping when walking, swelling in the lower extremities, and visible varicose veins may be signs that you need to consult a vascular surgeon for treatment.
Vascular surgeons at Cooper Health
At Cooper, our vascular surgeons specialize in a variety of treatments for vascular conditions, such as:
- Aortic dissection repair
- Abdominal vascular imaging
- Endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair
- Endovascular thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) repair
- Carotid angioplasty
Using state-of-the-art technology at one of the busiest vascular surgery facilities on the East Coast, our team ensures excellent outcomes for our patients.
You should consult with your vascular surgeon to learn what treatments they specialize and whether they fit your unique medical situation.
If you are in need of a vascular surgeon and suspect you have a relevant condition, learn more about our vascular surgery department.
Contact Us
To learn more about services available in the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery or to schedule an appointment, please call 856.342.2151.
What will my first appointment look like?
Your first appointment with a vascular surgeon will include a thorough review of your medical history, a physical examination, and diagnostic tests to further diagnose your condition. The process for your appointment may vary based on your surgeon.
Typically, your surgeon will ask about your medical history to uncover current symptoms, active medications, and relevant family history. This information is key in diagnosing not only your condition but also your overall vascular health.
Next, your surgeon will examine the parts of your body being affected by a vascular condition. They will check for common signs of vascular issues, including swelling, skin abnormalities, and reduced pulse. Based on this examination, your surgeon will order diagnostic tests to examine the vascular system. These tests may include:
- Ultrasounds to visualize blood vessels and blood flow.
- CT Scans to detect aortic aneurysms and/or blocked arteries.
- Angiograms to visualize blood vessels using special dye.
- Ankle-Brachial Index Tests to measure blood pressure in the ankles and arms.
Depending on your surgeon, these tests may be conducted at an outpatient facility following your appointment.
Finally, your surgeon will review your results and determine the best treatment plan. Some treatment plans may be as simple as lifestyle changes, while some may require surgery.
What should I bring with me for an appointment with a vascular surgeon?
It is important to be prepared for your first appointment with a vascular surgeon. A good history, complete background information and testing, and any previous procedure history will greatly assist your vascular surgeon in being able to best evaluate and plan treatment for any vascular disease problem. Be prepared to carefully describe any symptoms that you believe may be a sign of vascular disease.
You should also provide the surgeon’s office with your insurance information (ahead of time, if possible) to ensure they accept your plan.
On the day of your appointment, use this checklist to remember all the key things to bring:
- Tell the vascular surgeon how long symptoms have been present, when and where they occur, and how severe they seem.
- Take a list of medications and existing diseases under treatment.
- Take recent blood test results.
- Take reports from tests that have been performed. This might include reports of Doppler or ultrasound studies, CT scans, angiograms, or MRI examinations. In the case of CT scans, MRI examinations, or angiograms, actual films are most helpful and may be obtained at the facility where the examination was performed, usually on a CD copy. Having the actual films of these examinations greatly simplifies the work necessary for the vascular surgeon so the maximum information will be available at the time of your appointment.
- Take the dates and records of any previous vascular surgery, angioplasty, or stenting,. These are helpful in the evaluation of issues that are frequently quite complex. Having a record of these procedures done in the past can be extremely helpful and may avoid unnecessary repetitive testing.
What questions should I ask during my first appointment?
Before arriving at your appointment, be sure to jot down questions you want answers to by the end of your visit. Everyone may have different questions they may want to ask, but you should generally to relieve any fears or anxiety you may have about your condition.
For understanding your condition
To learn more information about your vascular condition, you may want to ask the following questions:
- What exactly is happening in my blood vessels?
- What are the long-term effects of my condition?
- Have you (your surgeon) had other patients with this condition? What did their treatment look like?
For understanding your treatment plan
You can better understand your surgeon’s treatment plan with these questions:
- What are the possible treatment options for my condition?
- Which option provides the best long-term benefit for my vascular health?
- What are the implications if I do not use this treatment plan? Are there any alternatives?
- How long will my treatment plan last? How long will the recovery process take?
For understanding your surgeon’s credentials
Before scheduling an appointment with a vascular surgeon, you should always research their credentials to ensure you receiving high-quality care. During your appointment, you can use these questions to validate your research:
- How long have you treated patients with my condition?
- How many surgeries have you performed on patients with my condition?
- What is your success rate with this type of treatment plan?
Contact Us
To learn more about services available in the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery or to schedule an appointment, please call 856.342.2151.
What should I wear to an appointment with a vascular surgeon?
Comfortable, casual clothing is appropriate for an appointment with a vascular surgeon. If leg symptoms or problems are involved, be prepared to remove shoes, socks, and pants to allow an adequate examination.
Usually, some sort of gown or exam shorts will be available in the examination room.
What will my appointment’s follow-up look like?
After your first appointment, your follow-up will vary depending on what the surgeon’s recommended treatment plan looks like.
If your treatment plan includes lifestyle changes, you may not follow-up with your surgeon for quite some time. This is to allow you to incorporate the recommended lifestyle changes and see how it affects your vascular condition. Your surgeon may recommend a follow-up appointment several months out from your initial visit.
If your treatment plan involves surgery, you will have more frequent follow-ups with your surgeon and their administrative team. This will involve scheduling your surgery, determining actions to take before your surgery, the surgery itself, and follow-up appointments after your surgery. These touchpoints are meant to best prepare you for your surgery so you can have a successful recovery period.
Make the most of your first vascular appointments
Your first appointment with a vascular surgeon doesn’t have to be intimidating. By being prepared, you can focus less on your anxieties and more on finding the best treatment plan for your condition.
If you are a new patient looking for a vascular surgeon, you can schedule an appointment with Cooper’s Vascular and Endovascular Surgery team by calling 856.342.2151.
If you are a doctor looking to refer a patient to a Cooper vascular specialist, please call 856.968.7067.