Dr Murali Krishna Vascular Surgeon Profile: Qualifications, Conditions Treated and When to Consult

If a doctor has advised you to see a vascular surgeon for varicose veins, a non-healing foot wound or a dialysis fistula, you probably want two things: a clear idea of what this specialist does, and factual information about the person you are being referred to. This article gives a plain profile of Dr Murali Krishna vascular surgeon at Cura Hospitals, Kanakapura Road, Bengaluru, and then explains what vascular surgery covers and when a consultation is warranted.

Profile at a glance

The qualifications follow the standard route in India: MBBS, a postgraduate master’s degree in surgery (MS), and then a DNB in vascular surgery, a super-speciality qualification awarded by the National Board of Examinations. Vascular surgeons trained this way manage both open surgery and endovascular (catheter-based, through a small puncture) procedures. Cura Hospitals’ Kanakapura Road unit is a 100-bed multispeciality hospital with 24/7 emergency services.

What a vascular surgeon treats

Vascular surgery deals with the arteries, veins and lymphatic vessels outside the heart and brain. Common conditions include:

• Varicose veins and chronic venous disease: bulging leg veins, aching, swelling, skin darkening or ulcers near the ankle. Treatment ranges from compression stockings to laser or radiofrequency ablation, foam sclerotherapy and glue closure.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): a clot in a deep leg vein, usually causing sudden one-sided calf swelling and pain. Needs urgent blood thinners; some cases need clot removal or a filter.
• Peripheral arterial disease (PAD): narrowed leg arteries, typically in smokers and people with diabetes, causing cramping calf pain on walking that eases with rest (claudication), and in advanced stages rest pain or gangrene. Managed with medicines, exercise, angioplasty and stenting, or bypass surgery.
• Diabetic foot and non-healing wounds: ulcers that do not heal in 4-6 weeks often have a blood-supply problem underneath. Restoring flow (revascularisation) is central to limb salvage, which means avoiding amputation.
• Dialysis access: creating an arteriovenous (AV) fistula or graft in the arm for people with kidney failure, and fixing fistulas that block or fail to mature.
• Aneurysms: ballooning of the aorta or other arteries, repaired by open surgery or stent grafts (EVAR).
• Carotid artery disease: narrowing of the neck arteries that can cause stroke, managed with medicines, endarterectomy or stenting.
• Vascular trauma and vascular malformations.

Anyone looking for a vascular surgeon in bangalore can check which of these services a hospital actually provides on its vascular surgery page before booking.

When to see a vascular surgeon

A family physician, diabetologist, nephrologist or general surgeon usually makes the referral, but some symptoms justify a direct consultation:

1. Leg veins that bulge, with aching, heaviness or swelling by evening, or skin changes around the ankle
2. A wound on the foot or leg that has not healed in 4-6 weeks, especially with diabetes
3. Calf or thigh pain that comes on after walking a fixed distance and settles with rest
4. Cold, pale or bluish toes, or a foot that hurts at night and improves when hung over the edge of the bed
5. Sudden swelling and pain in one leg (possible DVT: same-day assessment)
6. Kidney failure with dialysis planned within the next 3-6 months, so a fistula can be created and allowed to mature in time
7. A pulsating lump in the abdomen, or a known aneurysm on a scan

A fuller explanation of when you should see a vascular surgeon is available on the hospital’s site.

Emergencies: do not wait for an appointment

Go to an emergency department immediately for a suddenly cold, painful, pale or numb limb (acute limb ischaemia), sudden severe abdominal or back pain in someone with a known aneurysm, rapidly spreading infection in a diabetic foot with fever, or a swollen leg with chest pain or breathlessness (possible clot in the lung). In these situations hours matter.

What to carry to the consultation

• Previous reports: Doppler ultrasound, CT or MR angiography, kidney function tests, HbA1c
• A list of current medicines, especially blood thinners, diabetes and blood pressure medicines
• Photographs of a wound over the past weeks, if you have them
• Details of smoking history and the walking distance before pain begins
• Insurance or scheme details, since many vascular procedures are covered

Indicative costs in Bengaluru

As approximate ranges only: a vascular Doppler INR 1,500-4,000; varicose vein laser or radiofrequency ablation INR 50,000-1.2 lakh per leg; AV fistula creation INR 25,000-60,000; peripheral angioplasty with stent INR 1.5-3.5 lakh. Figures vary with hospital, room category, the number of vessels or veins treated and the implants used, and the exact estimate is given by the treating surgeon after assessment. Reading about leg pain, swelling and non-healing wound assessment can help you prepare before the visit.

A note on choosing any specialist

Check the doctor’s qualifications on the hospital’s doctor listing or the National Medical Commission’s register, confirm that the hospital has a cath lab for endovascular work and an ICU for complex cases, and ask about both surgical and non-surgical options for your condition. The profile page for Dr Murali Krishna vascular surgeon lists his qualifications and the Kanakapura Road location for those seeking a consultation; the final decision on any procedure should follow a detailed examination and a discussion of the alternatives.

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Please consult a qualified doctor for the diagnosis and treatment of vascular conditions.