Vascular Surgery

Endovascular procedures allow vascular surgeons to operate through smaller incisions than traditional open surgeries. Surgeons often use catheters (small, thin tubes) and stents (mesh tubes) to open blocked or narrowed blood vessels.

There are several benefits to these less invasive surgeries, such as less bleeding, fewer complications and a faster recovery.

Endovascular procedures include:

• Angioplasty and stenting, which uses balloons and stents to open narrowed or blocked arteries caused by conditions such as PAD
• Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), used to treat abdominal aortic aneurysms and aneurysms in your chest
• Endovenous ablation, in which veins are sealed off with a laser, chemicals or radiofrequency waves
• Thrombectomy to remove blood clots that can cause strokes, pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis
• Trans-carotid artery revascularization (TCAR), a method to treat carotid artery disease and blockage, and reduce the risks of stroke during the procedure and afterward

 Depending on your diagnosis and condition, a traditional open procedure may be a better alternative for a better long-term outcome. Open surgery sometimes requires a larger incision than a minimally invasive procedure. While recovery may take slightly longer, your results can be as good or better than those you would experience with a minimally invasive surgery.

Open vascular surgeries include:

• Carotid endarterectomy, used to clear blockages caused by carotid artery disease
• Open aortic aneurysm repair, which involves an incision in your belly or chest to access the bulging aortic artery
• Open bypass surgery, a procedure that can treat PAD and similar conditions using a vein or artificial tube to redirect blood around a blockage in your artery

Some vascular diseases require procedures that address the cause or complication of the condition. In these cases, your vascular specialist can work with other physicians to provide the specialized care you need.

Thoracic outlet syndrome, a vascular disease in which an area between the neck and armpit is narrowed, may benefit from first rib resection. The procedure involves a surgeon removing all or part of a rib to give blood vessels more room.

In people receiving kidney dialysis, you may need a catheter or graft in the arm to provide a place to get the dialysis regularly. Vascular surgeons can implant a device called a hemodialysis access graft or use your vein to create a fistula (connection) to help improve dialysis results and reduce infections.