Vein Transplant

Veins are tubes that carry blood around the body. Veins are distinct from arteries in that veins carry low-pressure deoxygenated blood back to the heart whereas arteries carry high-pressure oxygenated blood out of the heart.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

• Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a condition caused by repetitive actions, such as typing. CTS leads to shooting pains in the hands. This happens because tendons swell up and squeeze the median nerve in the arm. Doctors have used veins transplanted from the leg of a patient to wrap this nerve and thus prevent the pain.

Stents

• Some problems affecting veins and arteries are due to the blood vessel having insufficient width. This can be addressed by the use of stents. Stents are tubes used to hold blood vessels open.

Atherosclerosis

• Atheresclerosis is the gradual thickening of the walls of blood vessels. This can lead to blood not being able to travel to some parts of the body. Transplantation of blood vessels can be used to treat atherosclerosis.