Definitions:

1. Claudication. Pain in the legs when walking from a lack of artery flow to the muscles usually caused by narrowing in the arteries.
2. Rest pain. Pain in the foot from a severe lack of artery flow to the foot. Usually occurs at night when the legs are flat because gravity cannot help the blood flow to the foot.
3. Critical Limb Ischemia. Severe narrowing in the leg arteries that causes ulcer, rest pain, gangrene and eventually if untreated will lead to leg amputation.
4. Popliteal artery. The artery behind the knee.
5. Subclavian Artery. The artery to the arm. Also the artery that supplies flow to the back of the brain because the vertebral artery is one of the first branches of the subclavian artery.
6. Renal artery. The artery that supplies blood flow to the kidney.
7. Iliac artery. The artery in the pelvis that supplies blood flow to the pelvis and eventually the legs.
8. Carotid artery. The artery in the neck that supplies blood flow to the brain face (External Carotid Artery) and the brain (Internal Carotid Artery).
9. Inferior Vena Cava. The main vein in the abdomen that returns blood from the legs and organs in the abdomen to be reoxygenated by the lungs.
10. Superior Vena Cava. The main vein in the chest that returns blood from the head and arms to the lungs to be reoxygenated.
11. Cerebrovascular Accident. Stroke. Can be caused by narrowing in the carotid arteries, a clot thrown to the brain from a heart attack or irregular heart beat, or high blood pressure.

Common Abbreviations in Vascular Surgery

1. PAD-Peripheral Arterial DIsease
2. AAA-Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
3. EVAR-Endovascular Aneurysm Repair
4. CAS-Carotid Artery Stenosis
5. RAS-Renal Artery Stenosis
6. CAD-Coronary Artery Disease
7. DVT-Deep Vein Thrombosis
8. PE-Pulmonary Embolism
9. CVD-Cerebrovascular Disease
10. CVA-Cerebrovascular Accident (stroke)
11. TIA-Transient Ischemic Attack (mini stroke)
12. CLI-Critical Limb Ischemia
13. IVC-Inferior Vena Cava
14. SVC-Superior Vena Cava