Vascular Care & Testing
Ed Wehling, DO is board certified in general surgery by the American Osteopathic Board of Surgery. He received his medical degree from Arizona State University & Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ in 2002. He completed his residency training in general, thoracic, & trauma surgery at Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, & his fellowship training in vascular surgery at the University of North Texas, Dallas/Fort Worth. Wehling has extensive experience in general & thoracic surgery, endoscopy, modern vascular & endovascular techniques, vascular access procedures, wound management, & Level One trauma management. Dr. Wehling & his wife have two sons & live on a farm near Mt. Ayr, Iowa. He has a passion for the outdoors and loves to hunt & fish.
Vascular Conditions We Treat
There are many non-cardiac conditions that can affect your blood vessels and circulation, including:
- Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
- Carotid artery disease (CAD)
- Stroke
- Blood clots
- Arterial stenosis
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Vascular stenosis
- Lymphedema
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)
Many vascular conditions occur due to the buildup of plaque or other substances within the blood vessels, which can block blood flow and cause severe disability or death. PAD, in particular, is a common condition not often recognized until the problem becomes progressively worse, leading to heart attack or stroke.
Varicose Veins & Other Venous Diseases
Concerned about the health of your legs? We also treat people experiencing symptomatic varicose veins, spider veins, chronic venous insufficiency, and other problematic venous diseases.
Diagnosing Vascular Problems
Diagnostic testing that may be performed to either confirm or rule out a vascular problem include:
Using ultrasound imaging technology at the abdomen may help determine the size of an abdominal aortic aneurysm, if one is present. This test is painless and straightforward, using a hand-held transducer that glides over the skin of your belly.
An angiogram is a medical imaging test, in which X-rays, a CT scan, or MRI are taken after contrast dye is injected into the blood, which can highlight blood flow throughout the body. It is often used to identify the location of blood flow restrictions or blockages, including the presence of a blood clot, aneurysm, tumor, or other problems.
This simple, noninvasive diagnostic test compares the blood pressure measured at your ankle against that in your upper arm. It can help determine whether your lower limbs are receiving adequate blood flow. An ABI test can reliably indicate the presence of peripheral artery disease (PAD).
Also called a carotid duplex ultrasound, this noninvasive imaging test uses sound waves to create images of the condition of your carotid arteries, the two main arteries located on either side of your neck that deliver oxygen-rich blood to the brain. It can help determine your risk of stroke.
Adults 60 and older, those with a history of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, as well as those who smoke have an increased risk of developing vascular disease outside the heart.
Treating Vascular Conditions
Minimally invasive nonsurgical treatment is always considered prior to recommending more invasive interventions such as surgery. No physician referral is necessary to discuss treatment options for vascular disease or other circulatory system conditions.
Common vascular treatments include:
Angioplasty and stenting are methods of opening up clogged blood vessels to improve blood flow. A balloon angioplasty involves threading a catheter into an artery to the site of restricted blood flow. A special balloon is inflated at that location, which opens the artery from the inside. Stents are tiny devices used to prop up blood vessels and left in place to keep the blood flowing.
A blood clot in the deep veins of the legs can be life-threatening, should the blood clot become loose and travel to the lungs.
Treating deep vein thrombosis (DVT) typically centers around reducing the size of the blood clot (through medications known as blood thinners) as well as preventing the growth of future blood clots (through the use of compression stockings, for example).
In some cases, your physician may recommend surgery to place a small device called a vena cava filter inside a large vein that can prevent blood clots from traveling to the lungs.
This type of vascular surgery is performed to reroute blood around a blocked artery in the leg. A surgeon typically transplants living tissue, such as a vein taken from elsewhere in the body, around the blocked vein.
There are numerous methods to remove symptomatic varicose veins, including using injections, radiofrequency, or laser energy to close and seal the problematic veins. In some cases, outpatient surgery may be recommended, such as vein stripping (for deep veins) or phlebectomy (for smaller veins closer to the surface of the skin).
Patients preparing to undergo dialysis may need a surgically created connection between artery and vein, called an arteriovenous (AV) fistula. This is typically created in the arm and allows for robust blood flow needed during dialysis.
Vascular Care in Mount Ayr, IA
Problems with blood flow through the veins and arteries are extremely common – more so as we age – and can have deadly consequences. If you or your doctor believe you may have a vascular problem, trust Ringgold County Hospital in Mount Ayr, Iowa, to diagnose and treat your non-cardiac vascular issue.
To find out more, call the hospital’s main line at (641) 464-3226 or request an appointment now.
