• Carotid Disease
• Peripheral Vascular Disease
• Abdominal Aneurysms
• Venous Disease
• Unusual Vascular Conditions

What Vascular Conditions can your Cardiologist Treat?

Vascular conditions are issues with arteries or veins outside the heart (“peripheral”) which when diseased cause circulation problems with symptoms. PAD, venous disease, Abdominal aneurysms, carotid stenosis, renal artery disease, varicose veins to name a few. Dr. Das has special training in diagnosing and treating Peripheral arterial and venous disease. He was the first cardiologist in Dallas to obtain Board Certification from the Society of Vascular Medicine and Biology (SVMB) for expertise in Endovascular Interventions. Dr. Das also serves as a founding member of The National Vascular Education meeting called VIVA (Vascular Interventional Advances www.vivaphysicians.org. Dr. Das has been teaching the techniques of complex vascular disease to other cardiologists, surgeons and other physicians with over 500 courses since 1996.

Carotid Disease

What is Carotid Disease?

Neck artery blockages which lead to strokes. Carotid arteries are the arteries in the neck which supply the brain and when clogged with cholesterol plaques or clot can lead to strokes or TIA (transient ischemic attacks/mini-strokes). Most carotid blockages are without symptoms. Typical risk factors include the same as coronary artery disease such as HTN, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking and family history. In addition, almost 50% of patients with coronary artery disease can have peripheral arterial disease, including carotid disease. These blockages can be safely and successfully treated with stents, using filter basket protection devices to reduce complications and avoiding surgery. Newer, less invasive surgery options exist as well. The cardiologists at C3 are very experienced at carotid stenting and have performed over 1000 carotid stents since 2004. If you suspect you have a carotid blockage or seek a second opinion for carotid disease diagnosed elsewhere, please contact us at info@texasC3.com

Peripheral Vascular Disease

What is Peripheral Vascular Disease?

Artery blockage conditions outside the heart circulation which lead to symptoms. Blockages in the legs which lead to symptoms of leg cramping and pain when walking may be related to PAD (Peripheral Arterial Disease). Leg pain and blockages if severe may lead to wounds or ulcers which may not heal until circulation is restored by minimally invasive techniques. Patients with leg blockages may think the symptoms are from arthritis or bone pains, but exertional cramping in the legs, particularly the calves is frequently from undiagnosed arterial blockages. A simple, painless, non-invasive ultrasound doppler examination of the legs in the office can help make the diagnosis. Treatment may include medical therapy, invasive balloon or stent therapy or in few cases, surgical bypass. The techniques for minimally invasive treatments including atherectomy (cleaning out), balloon angioplasty and stent therapy have evolved to the treatments of choice for many vascular conditions instead of open surgery. If you have a non healing wound, gangrene, leg pains or were told you need surgery or worse, amputation for your foot or leg condition please reach out for a second opinion at info@texasC3.com to learn what your options may be.

Abdominal Aneurysms

What are Abdominal Aneurysms (AAA)?

An enlarged Aorta or AAA is nearly always without symptoms. The typical risk factors include high blood pressure, smoking and family history of aneurysms. Patient’s over the age of 55 with these risk factors qualify for a screening ultrasound to check for an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). If the aneurysm reaches close to or greater than 5cm in width, there are treatment options with stent grafts called EVAR (Endovascular Aortic Repair) instead of open surgery. If you have been told you have an aneurysm and need a second opinion, please contact us at info@texasC3.com with question.

Venous Disease

What is Venous Disease?

Varicose veins, heaviness, pain and swelling of the legs may be signs of venous insufficiency. The veins in the legs are different than arteries as they bring blood back to the heart from the lower extremities. The veins can develop issues with the one-way valves which regulate the blood flow. With years of standing on your feet or family history of vein problems, the valves become two-way (incompetent) instead of remaining one way. If this happens, swelling and pain and even ulcerations may occur on the leg. If you see discoloration and reddening of the legs with swelling and pain, it may be a sign of venous insufficiency. A simple ultrasound examination of the veins can make the diagnosis. Treatment could be as simple as compression stockings or even an office procedure called venous ablation which improves the vein circulation in just 30 minutes. If you suspect you have vein problems with varicose veins, swelling or pains contact us for a second opinion at info@texasC3.com

Unusual Vascular Conditions

What are Subclavian blockages?

Blockages in arteries that supply the arms can lead to symptoms of upper extremity fatigue when using the affected arm. A decrease in blood pressure in one arm compared to the other may suggest blockage in a subclavian artery. Some patients experience dizziness and unsteadiness from subclavian blockages (called subclavian steal syndrome) since the vertebral artery branch which supplies the balance centers to the brain which branch off the subclavian artery. If you suspect or were told you had subclavian artery stenosis (blockage) or subclavian steal syndrome feel free to reach out to our second opinion clinic with questions at info@texasC3.com. Most subclavian blockages do not need to be treated so please inquire if you were told your blockage does, especially if you have no symptoms. These can be treated by out-patient, minimally invasive stent procedures.

What is Renal artery stenosis and Fibromuscular Dysplasia?

Renal artery stenosis is the cholesterol blockage of arteries (renal) which supply blood to the kidneys. A small percentage of patients with high blood pressure have a secondary cause for high BP which is not a genetic HTN issue. These patients may have blockage in one or both kidney arteries which leads to symptoms of high blood pressure. In some cases, placing a stent in the blocked kidney artery can reduce or eliminate the use of blood pressure meds. If you had high blood pressure diagnosed later in life (over the age of 40) or had well treated BP and suddenly have difficulty in treating the BP, you may need to be checked for renal artery stenosis.

Another unusual condition, but one we see frequently is fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD). This is a condition where young people with high blood pressure have fibrous webs instead of cholesterol plaques which narrow the arteries to the kidneys. This condition can lead to high blood pressure and is diagnosed with a CT scan or MRI of the renal arteries. If found, it can be treated with a simple balloon procedure to clear the webs leading to the kidney blockage, improving the blood pressure in most cases. If you suspect renal artery stenosis or FMD because of difficult to control or recent onset BP, please seek a second opinion at info@texasC3.com