Vascular Disease Treatments

What vascular disease treatments are available?

Vascular bypass graft surgery

Blocked arteries due to atherosclerosis or other factors disrupt blood flow to the affected organs and tissues which can result in tissue damage, limb pain, and skin wounds that do not properly heal.

Vascular bypass graft surgery is a procedure used to reroute blood flow around the blocked arteries to restore adequate perfusion to the affected area. During the procedure, vascular surgeons create a graft made from synthetic material or a vein from your body.

Types of bypass procedures include:

• Aortobifemoral bypass: The graft connects the abdominal aorta to both femoral arteries in the legs.
• Femoral-popliteal bypass: The graft connects the femoral artery to the popliteal artery above or below the knee.
• Femoral-tibial bypass: The graft connects the femoral artery to the tibial arteries below the knee.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm treatments

Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are treated through a combination of monitoring, medications, and surgical interventions. The primary surgical option is endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), a minimally invasive procedure involving a stent graft to reinforce the aortic wall and reduce pressure on the aneurysm. This technique offers shorter recovery times and less pain compared to traditional open surgery, which remains an option for complex cases.

Learn More

Aortic dissection treatment

Treatment for aortic dissection varies depending on the severity and location of the tear. It includes medication to manage blood pressure and heart rate or surgical repair to seal the dissection. For complex cases, advanced techniques like endovascular stent-grafting are employed, offering minimally invasive alternatives to traditional open surgery.

Learn More

Carotid artery disease treatments

Carotid artery disease is managed through lifestyle changes, medications, and surgical procedures to prevent stroke risk. The primary surgical treatments are carotid endarterectomy, which removes plaque from the artery, and carotid artery stenting, a less invasive option that uses a stent to keep the artery open.

Learn More

Endovascular repairs of thoracic aortic aneurysms

Carotid artery disease is managed through lifestyle changes, medications, and surgical procedures to prevent stroke risk. The primary surgical treatments are carotid endarterectomy, which removes plaque from the artery, and carotid artery stenting, a less invasive option that uses a stent to keep the artery open.

Learn More

Peripheral artery disease treatments

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) treatments focus on restoring blood flow and reducing symptoms. Non-surgical options include medication, exercise programs, and minimally invasive procedures like angioplasty with stenting. For severe cases, bypass surgery may be necessary to create alternate blood flow pathways around blockages.

Learn More

Venous stent thrombectomy

Blood colts can block veins. A wire mesh tube called a stent can be implanted to open the vein and allow blood to flow more easily. Venous stents can also become blocked when clots form inside the stent. Deep vein stent occlusion can occur in a few weeks or years after a venous stent is implanted.

In March 2023, MedStar Washington Hospital Center became the first site in the world where the RevCore thrombectomy catheter was used to remove clots and debris from blocked stents. The doctor will numb the incision site with a local anesthetic and insert a thin, flexible tube called a catheter with a cutting element at the end of the catheter. Using X-ray guidance, your surgeon will direct the catheter to the blocked venous stent. The cutting element is designed to cut and remove the clots and debris within the stent. This procedure is typically completed within an hour and patients can go home the same day. Most patients return to daily activities within a few days.

Conditions

Tests

Additional information