Vascular Conditions & Symptoms — Sarasota & Bradenton, FL

Do You Recognize Any of These Symptoms?

Leg pain on walks. Swollen ankles. Varicose veins. Wounds that won’t heal. These aren’t just inconveniences — they’re often the earliest, most treatable signs of vascular disease. Our board-certified vascular surgeons can tell you what’s happening and what to do about it.

Vascular Disease Often Starts With a Symptom You’re Ignoring.

Most vascular conditions build slowly — over months or years. The leg that cramps on a walk. The ankle that swells every evening. The varicose vein you’ve learned to live with. These are early warning signs.

Our vascular surgeons and vein specialists find the cause behind the symptom and offer treatment options ranging from simple in-office procedures to complex surgery. The earlier we catch it, the easier it is to treat. Medicare and most major insurance plans accepted.

Not sure if your symptom is vascular? That’s exactly why you see a specialist. A consultation is the right first step, even if you’re unsure what’s wrong. Most patients are seen within one to two weeks.

Venous Conditions

Varicose Veins

Leg aching · Visible veins · Swelling
Aching, heavy legs and bulging veins signal faulty vein valves allowing blood to pool rather than flow toward the heart. Highly treatable — often in a single in-office visit with no downtime. The sooner they’re addressed, the simpler the fix.

Spider Veins

Cosmetic · Burning / itching · Small vessels
Small web-like clusters of red or blue veins just beneath the skin surface. Often cosmetic but can signal underlying venous insufficiency. Respond well to sclerotherapy in a brief in-office appointment — no anesthesia, no downtime.

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

Leg clot · Sudden swelling · Urgent
A blood clot in the deep veins of the leg can travel to the lungs, becoming a potentially fatal pulmonary embolism. Sudden leg swelling, warmth, or pain in one limb requires prompt evaluation. Long-term vascular care after DVT prevents recurrence and post-thrombotic syndrome.

May-Thurner Syndrome

Left leg swelling · DVT risk · Iliac compression
An anatomical condition where the right iliac artery compresses the left iliac vein, slowing blood flow from the left leg and significantly increasing DVT risk. Often undiagnosed for years. Treated with iliac vein stenting to restore outflow and relieve chronic swelling, pain, and skin changes.

Pelvic Congestion Syndrome

Pelvic pain · Ovarian veins · Women
Chronic pelvic pain caused by varicose veins within the pelvis — typically from incompetent ovarian or pelvic veins. Frequently misdiagnosed. Treated with ovarian vein ablation or embolization, eliminating the refluxing vessels causing pressure and pain without open surgery.

Paget-Schroetter Syndrome

Arm DVT · Effort thrombosis · Young athletes
Upper extremity DVT caused by repetitive overhead activity compressing the subclavian vein at the thoracic outlet — also called effort thrombosis. Common in athletes. Treatment combines catheter-directed clot dissolution with first rib resection to decompress the vein and prevent recurrence.

Arterial Conditions

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)

Leg cramping · Cold feet · Walk fatigue
Narrowing of the arteries supplying the legs — caused by atherosclerosis — reduces blood flow and causes cramping, fatigue, and non-healing wounds. Common, underdiagnosed, and very manageable when caught early. Left untreated, it can progress to limb-threatening ischemia.

Carotid Artery Disease

Stroke risk · Often asymptomatic · TIA
Plaque buildup in the carotid arteries restricts blood flow to the brain and is a leading cause of stroke. Often present for years without symptoms — until a TIA or stroke occurs. A duplex ultrasound screening can detect it early. VWI offers TCAR, CEA, and carotid stenting.

Aortic Aneurysms

Silent condition · Screening · Men 65–75
An abnormal aortic enlargement that grows silently and risks rupture — a life-threatening emergency — if untreated. Most patients have no symptoms until a critical event. One-time ultrasound screening is recommended for men 65–75 who have smoked. VWI offers EVAR and open repair.

Peripheral Aneurysms

Popliteal · Femoral · Clot risk
Aneurysms can form in the popliteal (behind the knee), femoral, and other peripheral arteries — often without symptoms but at significant risk of thrombosis, embolism, and limb ischemia. Popliteal aneurysms carry a high risk of limb loss if untreated and typically require surgical repair.

Visceral Aneurysms

Splenic artery · Renal artery · Often incidental
Aneurysms affecting the visceral arteries — most commonly the splenic, renal, and mesenteric — are rare but serious. Usually found incidentally on imaging. Rupture risk varies by size and location. Endovascular embolization or open repair is recommended based on anatomy and growth rate.

Mesenteric Ischemia

Post-meal pain · Weight loss · Bowel supply
Reduced blood flow to the intestines causes severe abdominal pain after eating and progressive weight loss as patients avoid food. Often misdiagnosed for months or years as a GI condition. Mesenteric revascularization restores bowel blood supply and resolves symptoms.

Subclavian Artery Stenosis

Arm fatigue · BP difference between arms · Dizziness
Narrowing of the subclavian artery can cause arm fatigue, exertional arm pain, and a measurable blood pressure difference between arms. Subclavian steal syndrome occurs when reversed vertebral artery flow causes neurological symptoms including dizziness, visual changes, and syncope.

Buerger’s Disease

Smokers · Hands & feet · Inflammatory
A non-atherosclerotic inflammatory disease of small and medium arteries — almost exclusively in smokers — causing progressive occlusion of vessels in the hands, feet, and lower limbs. Presents with severe pain, ulceration, and gangrene. Complete tobacco cessation is the only intervention that can halt or reverse progression.

Other Vascular Conditions

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS)

Arm pain · Numbness · Vascular or neurogenic
Compression of nerves, arteries, or veins passing through the space between the collarbone and first rib. Vascular TOS — arterial or venous — can cause arm clots, arterial occlusion, or permanent vascular damage if untreated. Treatment includes first rib resection and thoracic outlet decompression, sometimes combined with arterial or venous reconstruction. At VWI, we treat arterial and venous thoracic outlet syndrome and can refer patients out for treatment of neurogenic TOS.

Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS)

Post-meal pain · Young women · Weight loss
A rare condition where the median arcuate ligament of the diaphragm compresses the celiac artery, causing chronic abdominal pain worsened after eating. Frequently misdiagnosed as a GI disorder or eating disorder. Treated with laparoscopic or open release of the ligament, sometimes followed by vascular reconstruction.

Splenic & Renal Artery Stenosis

Resistant hypertension · Kidney function · Renovascular
Narrowing of the arteries supplying the kidneys or spleen can cause resistant hypertension, declining kidney function, and flash pulmonary edema. Often found incidentally on imaging. Endovascular stenting or open revascularization can restore blood supply and help control blood pressure refractory to medical therapy.

Lymphatic Conditions

Lymphedema

Chronic swelling · Skin changes · Primary or secondary
Chronic swelling of the arms or legs caused by damage or dysfunction of the lymphatic system. Primary lymphedema is congenital; secondary results from surgery, radiation, infection, or trauma — including cancer treatment. Accurate diagnosis differentiates it from venous edema and guides treatment including compression therapy, manual lymphatic drainage, and where appropriate, surgical options.

Symptoms

Claudication

Calf / thigh cramp · Relieves with rest · Early PAD sign

A cramping or aching pain in the calf, thigh, or buttock that comes on predictably with walking and disappears within minutes of rest. The hallmark symptom of peripheral artery disease — and one of the earliest, most treatable warning signs. If you recognize this pattern, it deserves a vascular evaluation.

Leg Pain

Rest pain · Night pain · Multiple causes

Leg pain has many causes — arterial disease, venous disease, nerve compression, and musculoskeletal problems can all present similarly. Pain at rest or at night, pain accompanied by skin changes or coldness, or pain with non-healing wounds warrants a vascular workup to rule out limb-threatening disease.

Leg Swelling

Ankle swelling · Heaviness · Worsens through the day

Persistent leg or ankle swelling — especially swelling that worsens through the day and improves overnight — is one of the most common signs of chronic venous disease. It can also indicate DVT, venous obstruction, or lymphedema. A vascular evaluation identifies the cause and the right treatment approach.

Dizziness & Syncope

Fainting · Lightheadedness · Possible carotid

Recurring dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting can have vascular causes — including carotid disease, subclavian steal syndrome, and vertebrobasilar insufficiency. When neurological causes have been excluded, a vascular evaluation is an important next step. These symptoms can be an early warning of a cerebrovascular event.

Non-Healing Wounds

Diabetic foot · Leg ulcers · Limb salvage

A wound that hasn’t healed in four weeks needs a vascular evaluation. Non-healing wounds on the feet, ankles, or lower legs are often caused by inadequate arterial supply — the tissue isn’t receiving enough oxygen to heal. Dr. Ulloa specializes in combining wound care with vascular restoration, offering the best chance of limb preservation.

Post-Prandial Pain

Pain after eating · Food avoidance · Weight loss

Pain that reliably begins 15–30 minutes after a meal and fades over the following hour is a classic sign of chronic mesenteric ischemia. Patients often lose significant weight because eating triggers pain. This pattern is highly specific and warrants urgent vascular imaging — it is frequently misdiagnosed for months or years.

Abdominal Pain

Vascular origin · Often misdiagnosed · After meals

Not all abdominal pain is gastrointestinal. Vascular causes — including mesenteric ischemia, aortic aneurysm, and MALS — can mimic GI disorders. If you’ve had a thorough GI workup without resolution, a vascular surgeon should evaluate whether a circulation problem is the underlying cause.

Some Symptoms Can’t Wait for an Appointment.

If you are experiencing sudden severe leg or chest pain, a cold or pale limb, signs of a blood clot, or any acute vascular emergency — call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.

Doctors Hospital ER (Sarasota): (941) 342-1100
HCA Florida Blake Medical Center ER (Bradenton): (941) 745-2000

Ready to Take the Next Step?

No referral needed for most insurances. No guessing. A straightforward conversation with a specialist who can tell you exactly what’s happening — and what your options are.