Vascular Surgery Treatments
Our team of highly skilled and trained surgeons use the latest technology including open surgery, minimally invasive surgery and catheter-based treatments and draws on the most current research to provide care that’s tailored to each patient.
The vascular specialists at UI Health have years of experience detecting and treating both common and rare diseases that affect the arteries, veins, and lymphatic system, including:
Amputation
In an amputation, a surgeon removes a limb or part of a limb that is no longer useful and or is causing the patient great pain, or threatens their health because of extensive infection. The most common reason for amputation is peripheral arterial disease (PAD), though amputation may be required for other reasons, such as severe injury or the presence of a tumor. Vascular surgeons typically consider amputation a last resort.
Angioplasty and Stenting
In an angioplasty, the vascular surgeon inflates a small balloon inside a narrowed blood vessel to help widen the blood vessel and improve blood flow. After widening the vessel, the surgeon may insert a tiny mesh tube called a stent that supports the artery walls to keep the vessels wide open. Angioplasty and stenting are usually done through a small incision or puncture in the skin. The vascular surgeon inserts a long, thin catheter through access site. Using X-ray guidance, they then guide the catheter through the blood vessels to the blocked area. The tip of the catheter carries the angioplasty balloon or stent.
Aneurysm Repair
An aneurysm is an enlarged and weakened section of an artery that can block blood flow to parts of the body, or rupture. Vascular surgeons can treat aneurysms through either open or endovascular techniques. The best method to repair each aneurysm depends upon several factors, including the location and shape of the aneurysm and the condition of the patient.
Arterial Bypass/Aortoiliac Bypass
Surgical bypass treats narrowed arteries by creating a bypass around a section of the artery that is blocked. Surgeons perform aortoiliac bypass to treat blockages of the aorta and iliac arteries caused by aortoiliac occlusive disease. Depending upon the type and location of the blockage, your surgeon may repair or bypass your artery using tissues from your body or synthetic fabric patches or tubes called grafts.
Arterial/Venous Thrombolysis or Thrombectomy
Blood clots in arties or veins can blood the normal flow of blood throughout the body. Using special catheters, wires, and stents, vascular surgeons are able to remove blood clots to restore normal blood flow.
Carotid Endarterectomy
Carotid endarterectomy is an operation during which the vascular surgeon removes the inner lining of the carotid artery that has become thickened or damaged by plaque. Carotid endarterectomy is one of the most commonly performed vascular operations and is a safe, long-lasting treatment that significantly lowers stroke risk. Stenting also is a treatment for the carotid artery.
Endovenous Ablation
This is an image-guided, minimally invasive treatment for varicose veins. Uses radiofrequency or laser energy to cauterize and close the varicose veins.
Dialysis Access
Vascular surgeons can create an entryway into the blood stream — usually in the arm or leg — that allows blood to be removed and returned quickly, efficiently, and safely during dialysis treatment.
Radiofrequency Venous Ablation
Blood that should normally travel through the veins from the feet back to the heart can reverse direction if the valves within those veins no longer function well. The ablation procedure treats the veins which are associated with the reversal or reflux of blood and to reduce or resolve the resulting symptoms, including swelling, a burning or persistent discomfort, and varicose or spider veins.
Sclerotherapy
In this procedure, small- and medium-sized varicose veins are injected with a solution that scars and closes the veins. In a few weeks, treated varicose veins should fade. Although the same vein may need to be injected.
Thrombolysis
Blood clots form within blood vessels and grow to block blood flow. Thrombolysis is a procedure that dissolves abnormal blood clots in blood vessels, which improves blood flow to help prevent tissue and organ damage. During thrombolysis, an X-ray is used to guide medication or a medical device to the site of the blood clot in order to dissolve the clot.
