Vascular Surgery

Treatments

• Angiogram: A same-day procedure that allows your vascular surgeon to view the blood flow to your legs or arms to evaluate for blockages or other abnormalities. Your surgeon may proceed to an intervention such as angioplasty (balloon) and/or place a stent in the blockages at the same time. These procedures are performed to improve blood flow to your legs and enable you to walk further with less pain. It may also be performed to help you heal foot wounds.
• Carotid endarterectomy or stent: Performed to clean out the cholesterol build-up in your carotid arteries leading to your brain to decrease the risk of stroke. This usually requires an overnight stay.
• Deep venous thrombosis treatment
• Dialysis access creation & maintenance
• Dialysis catheter placement
• Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Repair (EVAR): Done to repair a bulge in the main blood vessel in your abdomen, called the aorta, which extends from your heart to your belly-button area. An endovascular graft is placed through the groin. The procedure requires an overnight stay.
• Inferior vena cava filter replacement & retrieval A small device is placed in your vein to prevent a blood clot from traveling to your lungs. This is done through the groin and is a same-day procedure. It can also be removed at a later date.
• Limb salvage: This is a procedure performed by vascular surgeons to save a patient’s leg from amputation.
• Lymphedema: A type of swelling that occurs when lymph, a fluid that contains white blood cells, builds up in the body’s soft tissue. This usually takes place in the arms or legs and can be caused by infection, scar tissue, cancer or an inherited condition.
• Open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: Sometimes the bulge in your blood vessel (aorta) does not meet the criteria for an EVAR, and must be done as an open surgery. This requires an incision in your abdomen and a graft is sewn into place, replacing the diseased portion of the aorta. On occasion, this is performed as an emergency if the aorta has ruptured.
• Peripheral bypass: A procedure performed to bypass the blockages in your legs using either your own veins, or a graft. These procedures usually require admission to the hospital, but are done to improve the blood flow to your legs to prevent limb loss. The normal length of hospital stay after a bypass is 2-5 days.
• Peripheral endovascular intervention: A same-day procedure that allows your vascular surgeon to place a balloon and/or stent in a blockage in either your legs or arms. This allows for greater blood flow, so you can move and walk with less pain.
• Stasis ulcers: When blood collects in the veins of the lower leg, it is called stasis dermatitis. Stasis ulcers occur when open sores result from untreated stasis dermatitis. Treatment includes varicose vein stripping and other surgical procedures.
• Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR): Performed to repair an aneurysm or a diseased portion of the aorta. The aorta in your chest is called the thoracic aorta. This is like EVAR in that it is minimally invasive, done through your groin. It does require a 1-2 overnight stay in the hospital.
• Venous ablations: Completed in the office in a short procedure to seal off the varicose veins that cause pain and swelling.

ICVL Accredited Vascular Ultrasound Lab:

• Abdominal aortic ultrasound: Used as a screening test to detect abdominal aortic aneurysm in men ages 65 to 75 who are also current or former cigarette smokers. It can help determine the cause of stomach pain or bloating.
• Arterial studies (ABI/PVVR, arterial duplex, upper extremity arterial testing): A series of tests used to diagnose peripheral vascular disease in the arms or legs.
• Carotid ultrasound: A painless, non-invasive imaging test using sound waves to create pictures of the inside of your carotid arteries. It is used to determine if there is a buildup of plaque or narrowing of the arteries.
• Venous upper & lower extremity: This ultrasound test evaluates whether you have a blood clot in your arms or legs.