Vascular surgery is surgery to treat disorders and diseases of the vascular system. A vascular surgeon performs surgery on patients with diseases, disorders, or inflammation of the veins and arteries. These diseases of the blood vessels can include vasculitis, aneurysms, ischemia, thrombosis, varicose veins, and immune system abnormalities.

Physicians in this specialty treat patients suffering from numerous diseases and illnesses, but some of the most common are Vascular Problems, varicose veins, Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), Peripheral Arterial Disease, pulmonary embolism, retinopathy, Renal Artery Disease, Mesenteric ischemia, Venous disease, Stasis dermatitis, Carotid Artery Disease, cerebrovascular disease, Varicosities, Arteriosclerosis of the extremities, Carotid Endarterectomies, Chronic limb ischemia, Arterial and Femoral Endarterectomies, Acute limb ischemia, abdominal Aortic Aneurysms, and Arterial diseases.

Once properly diagnosed, practitioners can perform numerous procedures on patients including vascular surgery, arterial surgery, venous surgery, and deep vein surgery.

To diagnose patients with possible illnesses and diseases, specialists will often perform one of many tests including Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), Echocardiogram, angiography, Photoplethysmography (PPG), Transcranial Doppler (TCD), Doppler Ultrasound, duplex scan, Doppler arterial exams, Noninvasive lab testing, Inferior vena cava scan, Vein mapping, Duplex ultrasound scan, Exercise testing for claudication, and Artery mapping.

Doctor density varies by specialty and location. Washington, D.C. has 30 practicing vascular surgeon in Washington.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Washington, D.C. has a population of 550,521. Of this population, 110,240 are under the age of 18 and 66,591 are at or above the age of 65.