Vascular Medicine in Singapore

Vascular medicine, also known as angiology, is a medical specialty that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of all problems that involve the lymphatic and circulatory systems outside of the heart. These problems can involve:

• Arteries, which is the blood vessel that delivers oxygenated blood from the heart to other parts of the body.
• Veins, which is the blood vessel that delivers blood back to the heart.
• Lymphatic system, which is the network of vessels that transport lymph throughout the body.

A physician who specializes in vascular medicine is called an avascular doctor or vascular medicine specialist. They are trained to provide comprehensive and effective care for all kinds of vascular diseases and conditions of the circulatory system. Some of the most common conditions are as follows:

• Peripheral arterial disease or claudication, which is blockages in the leg arteries that can cause pain when walking.
• Renal artery stenosis, which is blockages in the kidney arteries. It can contribute to chronic kidney disease and/or high blood pressure.
• Carotid artery stenosis, which is blockages in the kidney arteries. It can lead to a stroke.
• Venous problems, such as chronic venous insufficiency and deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
• Abdominal aortic aneurysms, which is a bulging of the aorta. It can cause the aorta to rupture.
• Vasculitis, lymphedema, Raynaud’s, and varicose veins.

Vascular medicine doctors diagnose and treat all blood vessels conditions using numerous non-invasive and minimally invasive procedures, such as:

• Abdominal aortic ultrasound
• Carotid ultrasound
• Venous and arterial ultrasound
• Wound care
• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
• Endovenous laser and radiofrequency ablation
• Sclerotherapy and ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy
• Ambulatory phlebectomy
• Anticoagulation management and monitoring.

How Long Should I Stay in Singapore?

Since most vascular medicine procedures can be performed as an outpatient procedure, you should be able to leave the hospital on the same day. Still, you should plan to stay in Singapore for at least 3 to 7 days to let your body recover and attend a follow-up checkup, if necessary. However, this depends on the condition and the type of treatment you will have. 

What's the Expected Recovery Time?

Different conditions and procedures have different recovery times. In many cases, you can expect to return to work immediately or within a couple of days and strenuous activities within 5 days or so. However, for more serious conditions, such as renal artery stenosis, longer recovery time may be needed.

What Aftercare is Required?

Your doctor will give you aftercare instructions, which normally include activity restrictions, dietary and exercise recommendations, as well as how to care for yourself at home. Following all of the instructions is important to avoid complications and to speed up your recovery. If your doctor prescribes you medicines, make sure to take them as directed. For certain diseases, such as deep vein thrombosis, you may need to see your doctor regularly for scans to check your blood clots. If you cannot travel multiple times to Singapore, you can choose to have the checkups with your local doctor.

What's the Success Rate?

Over the last several decades, the clinical practice of vascular medicine has significantly changed. Understanding of vascular diseases is continuously expanding, resulting in the development of new therapeutic approaches. A better understanding of vascular conditions, new techniques, and technological advances have played crucial roles in improving the success rates and safety of vascular medical procedures.  

Are there Alternatives?

There is currently no alternative to vascular medicine. However, if your doctor thinks that you need surgery, they will refer you to vascular surgery. They will also refer you to a relevant specialist if your condition is found to be caused by something else unrelated to the lymphatic and circulatory systems.

Vascular Medicine in and around Singapore

About Singapore

Singapore is a small, yet beautiful island city-state in South East Asia. The country's growth and prosperity in terms of infrastructure and economy are astounding and Singapore is affluent and tax-friendly and its GDP is on par with developed European nations.

Singapore is a global center for education, technology, tourism, trade, logistics, and healthcare. Medical expenses in Singapore are expensive when compared to Thailand and India. Yet, the country attracts medical tourists with its cleanliness, world-class medical infrastructure, and facilities. A C-section will cost anywhere between $6,048 and $11,267 in Singapore. Hip replacements can cost around $8,550-$12,850 and breast lump removal will cost you $5,459-$10,700 including a private room.

The country has 15 JCI accredited hospitals and medical centers, which offer a variety of services from orthopedics, dermatology, dental, cardiology, ophthalmology, and cosmetic procedures to alternative therapies such as acupuncture and Ayurveda. English-speaking medical professionals are extremely skilled and experienced. The hospitals in Singapore have access to cutting edge technologies and it is the best country to treat life-threatening, complex conditions.

It is advisable for medical tourists to have an International Health Insurance Plan to cover surgical costs. Most of the reputed hospitals in Singapore will only admit foreign patients with health insurance.

Medical care in Singapore is not just about getting preventive care and treatments for medical conditions that one may have. Some of the health care centers in Singapore are super luxurious and you can even order your food and shop using wireless tablets provided and make use of the nearby spas. Popular Hospitals and Clinics are the Farrer Park Hospital, Gleneagles Hospital Singapore, Mount Elizabeth Hospital, Parkway East Hospital, and Thomson Medical Centre.

Popular parts of Singapore

Singapore is home to over 5.5 million people and its cultural diversity is displayed in the extensive ethnic cuisine and major festivals. Singapore ranks number ten in the world for skyscrapers.

• Sentosa: Each of Sentosa’s three beaches: Siloso, Palawan, and Tanjong—hold their own unique charms. Palawan beach’s islets and playgrounds are great spaces for families to unwind. Resorts World Sentosa is home to several amazing experiences. Take a movie-themed ride at Universal Studios Singapore, or immerse yourself in aquatic adventures at the S.E.A. Aquarium.
• Marina Bay: If you wish to explore the extravagant side of Singapore, visit the stunning, Marina Bay. The Nightlife is amazing with glittering lights, glitzy rooftop bars, and restaurants. Marina Bay is the central and the busiest district of Singapore.
• Chinatown: You can experience an impressive blend of traditional and modern Singapore in Chinatown. There are ornate Chinese, Buddhist and Hindu temples, museums and plenty of opportunities to soak up the busy streets which are full of old shophouses. It is the perfect location for traditional cuisine and you will be spoilt for choice.
• Orchard: The 2 km long Orchard Road is a shopper’s paradise as you will find large shopping malls and designer’s stores. Singapore’s only UNESCO World Heritage site, the Botanical Garden lies at the corner of Orchard Road.
• Joo Chiat: This neighborhood is more residential and you will find an amazing range of housing options.
• Little India: is the center of the Indian community within Singapore and is filled with multicolored shop-houses that line the streets, and various mosques and temples, and enjoy the aromas that infuse the night air when the demand for food is at its peak.

Weather and Climate in Singapore

Singapore lies close to the equator in the Southern Hemisphere. The island country has a tropical climate. It is hot and humid throughout the year which has led to a steady inflow of tourists all year round.

Singapore receives an annual rainfall of 2430 mm. An average of 167 days receives moderate to heavy rainfall. Two different monsoons: Northeast (December to March) and Southwest monsoon (May to September) accounts for the rainfall. Thunderstorms are quite common during the Southwest monsoon.

The average temperature is 31°C during the day. It is most likely that the temperature can drop to 19°C during the hours of darkness.

Getting around in Singapore

Rated as the world's best airport by Skytrax, Singapore Changi Airport is one of the busiest airports in the World. The airport serves around 100 airlines, flying to 400 cities across 100 countries. You can hire a taxi or use the MRT to reach downtown Singapore.

The transport system is efficient due to the systematic and comprehensive network of roadways. The Land Transport Authority controls private vehicles and minimizes traffic congestion. Some of the common forms of transportation are:

• Mass Rapid Transit (MRT): The MRT has a total of five lines. You can buy a Singapore Tourist Pass or EZ Link card which allows you to use the railways any number of times for two or three days. A single journey costs 0.58 USD and a train arrives every 2-3 minutes during the peak hours.
• Public buses: There are over 300 public buses to serve the locals and tourists and bus fares range from 0.58 USD to 2.07 USD.
• Taxis: are widespread in Singapore and are less expensive and metered. It can cost you 2.63 USD per km.
• Water taxis: Will take you across the beautiful River Singapore. You can visit a few tourist spots via water taxis and view the downtown from a different angle. A single journey will cost 5 USD.

Tourist Visa in Singapore

Citizens of India, China and Russia require a valid tourist visa to enter the territory of Singapore. The visa processing time is just 5 days and it is valid for 90 days from the date of issue. You are allowed to stay here for a maximum of 30 days.

People from the European Union, US, Norway, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand can enter and stay for 90 days in Singapore visa-free.

Additional Information

1. Singapore dollar (S$) is the official currency of Singapore. 1 USD is equivalent to 1.36 Singapore dollars.
2. You can find ATMs close to banks, shopping malls and almost every tourist location. You can also pay by using credit and debit cards.
3. Malay is the national language of Singapore. Mandarin, English, Malay, and Tamil are the four other official languages of the country. So, almost all the locals are fluent in English.
4. Singapore is home to 10 religions. 33% of the total population practice Buddhism, followed by Christianity and Islam.
5. New Year's Eve, Chinese New Year, Labour’s day, Good Friday, Deepavali, Vesak day, Hari Raya Puasa and Christmas are some of the public holidays in Singapore.