With the opening of the new UT Physicians Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery clinic in Lake Jackson, residents do not have to drive about 50 miles to see a vascular surgeon affiliated with McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth).
Instead, they can seek expert care from Gordon Martin M.D., or Naveed Saqib, M.D., at their office at 504 This Way St., Suite C. in Lake Jackson. Close to Alvin, Angleton, Clute and other cities in Brazoria County, office appointments can be arranged by calling 713-486-1160.
“Vascular surgeons have a lot in common with plumbers,” said Dr. Saqib, assistant professor of cardiovascular medicine at McGovern Medical School. “We don’t do the pump (the heart) but we repair the pipes when they are leaking, broken or blocked.”
For example, vascular surgeons clear clogged arteries in the neck, widen narrowed arteries that restrict blood flow to the limbs and bust blood clots in the veins.
The good news with vascular conditions is that they are often quite manageable if you see a physician in the early stage of the condition.
“Our job is to fix problems,” Dr. Martin said. “We present the treatment options to our patients and then decide together on the best course of action.”
Vascular surgeons also address issues with the body’s largest blood vessel – the aorta. Some people have a genetic predisposition to aorta defects, which can be fatal.
“This is a very gratifying field of medicine,” said Dr. Martin, assistant professor of cardiovascular medicine at McGovern Medical School. “When we clear a clogged carotid artery, we reduce the patient’s risk of stroke. When we restore blood flow to limbs, we reduce the risk of amputation.”
Other conditions treated by Dr. Martin and Dr. Saqib include peripheral arterial disease, deep vein thrombosis, carotid artery disease, aortic aneurysms, mesenteric artery disease, thoracic outlet syndrome, dialysis fistulas and varicose veins.
