Zurück zur Startseite

Angiology

Angiology is an area of internal medicine that is concerned with the functioning and illnesses of the arteries, veins and lymphatics. The main duties discharged by an angiologist are in the fields of diagnosis of the various blood-vessel illnesses, both operative and non-operative therapies and prophylactic measures.

Focus is placed on degenerative and inflammatory illnesses of the arteries, the veins and the lymphatics of the extremities (e.g. arterial blockage illness, venous thromboses, varicose veins, forms of oedemas such as lymphatic oedema, the diabetic foot syndrome), the vessels supplying the brain (stenosis of the carotid artery, stroke) and of the abdominal vessels (e.g. aortic aneurysm, stenosis of the renal arteries).

By means of a patient discussion (anamnesis), a thorough bodily examination and the application of various additional technical measures of examination, such as ultrasound (e.g. vascular Doppler, colour duplex) or other imaging procedures (angiography, DSA, phlebography, MRT and computer tomography), the angiologist can diagnose various vascular illnesses.

Possible forms of treatment are:
administering of blood-circulation-promoting, vasodilative and anticoagulant medicaments.
Invasive processes, such as the dilation of constrictions and the placement of vascular supports.

Physical measures, e.g. compression therapy. The angiologist often works together with specialists in other fields (cardiology, neurology, vascular surgery) in an interdisciplinary manner. In some cases, when cooperating with other specialists in the field of internal medicine and with vascular surgeons and radiologists, a plan of treatment for individual patients is prepared. This cooperation usually takes place in so-called vascular centres.