Vascular

Comprehensive Treatment for Blood Vessel Conditions

When you or a loved one is facing an issue with the arteries or veins, you want the best care possible. At St. Luke’s, our board-certified vascular surgeons and registered vascular technicians work to diagnose your condition and create a treatment plan that meets your needs. We’re here to support you from diagnosis through treatment and recovery.

Vascular Conditions We Treat

Your vascular system is made up of arteries that carry blood throughout your body. When plaque and cholesterol build up in your arteries, they can cause blockages. If your artery is blocked or bulging, that can cause a vascular problem. The following are just some of the vascular conditions we treat.

Aneurysms

An aneurysm is a bulge in a weakened part of one of your arteries. It can occur in the aorta, the belly or chest, the pelvis, or behind the knee. An aneurysm can be fatal. We detect aneurysms with a simple in-office screening.

Carotid Artery Disease and Stroke

Your carotid arteries supply oxygen to your brain. Plaque can build up in these arteries, break loose, go to the brain, and cause a stroke. Carotid artery disease is the cause of one-third of all strokes.

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)

PAD is caused by a narrowing of vessels that carry blood to the legs and feet, arms, brain, stomach, or kidneys. It can increase your risk of coronary artery disease, heart attack, or stroke. Symptoms of PAD include leg pain or cramping (especially during exercise or walking) or leg or foot wounds that are slow to heal.

Your Vascular Disease Risk

If you’re 50 or older and worry about your risk for vascular disease, ask your provider if screening is right for you. Common risk factors include

• History of smoking
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Obesity 
• High cholesterol
• Family history of strokes, abdominal aortic disease and heart disease
• Prior heart attack bypass operation or coronary stent

Vascular Screenings

Early detection is key to managing vascular disease. We offer three types of vascular screenings:

• Carotid artery disease screening
• Peripheral artery disease (PAD) screening
• Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) screening

At our Vascular Lab, our registered vascular technologists perform these screenings. These specialists use ultrasound to view your arteries. Board-certified vascular surgeons read the results and deliver your report within a week.

If your study shows carotid disease, PAD, or the presence of a AAA, we’ll discuss treatment options with you.

Our Vascular Disease Treatment Options

We can treat many vascular conditions with medication and lifestyle changes. If you need more advanced treatment, we are here to help.

Surgical Treatments for Carotid Artery Disease

Depending on the severity of the blockage and whether or not you are having symptoms, your provider may recommend a surgical procedure to help clear blockages in your carotid artery. We offer these surgical procedures:

Carotid Endarterectomy (CEA)

CEA is a surgical procedure in which the surgeon removes plaque from the carotid artery to reduce your risk of stroke. The surgeon will make an incision on the neck to access the affected artery, open the artery and remove the plaque.

Transcarotid Artery Revascularization (TCAR)

We are pioneering the use of a breakthrough technology called transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR). The procedure for TCAR takes less time than other carotid artery procedures. It can be an alternative for you if you have other risk factors. Ask your provider about the benefits of a TCAR procedure.

Transfemoral Carotid Artery Stenting

While almost all patients are treated with CEA or TCAR, a select few patients can be treated with transfemoral carotid artery stenting. The surgeon will insert a tube into the artery in your upper thigh. First, the surgeon will place a small umbrella-like filter beyond the blockage to limit pieces of plaque from traveling toward the brain during the procedure. The surgeon then will insert a slender, metal-mesh tube, called a stent, which will expand inside the carotid artery and stabilize the plaque.

Surgical Treatments for Peripheral Artery Disease

If your PAD doesn’t respond to medications and exercise, we offer several procedures to treat the condition, including:

• Angioplasty (a minimally invasive procedure in which we’ll inflate a special balloon within your artery to clear plaque out of an artery and make room for blood to flow)
• Atherectomy (a minimally invasive procedure in which we use a thin, flexible tube called a catheter with special tools to cut or destroy blockages within your artery)
• Peripheral artery bypass surgery (a surgical procedure that involves our surgeons taking a healthy blood vessel from elsewhere in your body or a synthetic vessel to create a path for blood to flow around a blocked artery)
• Stent placement (a procedure that involves placing a small mesh tube to hold your artery open and keep it from narrowing again)

Surgical Treatments for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

If you have a large aneurysm that’s at risk for bursting, or if your aneurysm is causing you symptoms, your care team may recommend surgery to repair the aneurysm. We offer both traditional open aneurysm repair surgery and endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), a minimally invasive option. Your surgeon will discuss your options and help you decide on which is better for you.

If you have an abdominal aortic aneurysm that has ruptured, you will need immediate surgery to save your life.