Programs and Services
Open and Endovascular Surgery
When surgery is needed, we offer both conventional open surgery and minimally invasive (endovascular) techniques.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Repair
CardioVascular Institute surgeons are noted for both open and minimally invasive (endovascular) surgery to repair AAAs.
- The endovascular approach reduces the procedure to one to three hours, the hospital stay to one to three days and the return to normal activities to two-six weeks. Recently, CVI surgeons have performed this procedure in many patients by direct puncture through the skin with ultrasound guidance, eliminating the need for incisions and further reducing the time to full recovery.
- The mortality rate for elective, conventional surgical treatment of AAA in our center has been less than 2 percent, compared to a national average of 5-6 percent.
Carotid Endarterectomy
Our surgeons are recognized for exemplary results in surgical repair of the carotid artery (endarterectomy) for stroke prevention.
- Patients are generally admitted to the hospital the day of surgery and return home the next day.
- Our overall combined stroke and mortality rate of carotid endarterectomy has been 1.6 percent, with less than 1 percent in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomies for asymptomatic diseases.
Endovascular Surgery
Many patients are appropriate candidates for less invasive means of treating their vascular disease through endovascular surgery.
- Often effective in treating aneurysms in the chest or abdomen, and narrowing or blockage of the arteries that supply blood to the brain, legs, feet, intestines and kidneys.
- Offers an especially attractive option for those patients whose conditions preclude open surgical repair.
- In addition to their expertise in performing standard open surgical procedures, members of our vascular surgery team are specially trained in these less invasive techniques, such as angioplasty, stenting and stent grafts.
- We evaluate and treat patients with the procedure that is safest and most appropriate for their specific problem and overall clinical circumstances. The result is typically less pain, quicker healing and a rapid return to normal activities.
Lower Extremity Bypass Surgery
In close affiliation with the Joslin Diabetes Center, our physicians have pioneered treatments for circulatory impairment in the legs and feet brought on by diabetes.
- Treatments include innovative surgical bypass techniques to treat blockages or narrowing in the leg arteries.
- The great majority of peripheral vascular surgery bypass patients -- including those with and without diabetes -- do well and avoid amputation.
- We also provide comprehensive inpatient and outpatient wound care for chronic and slow-healing diabetic foot and lower-extremity ulcers.
- For patients with foot ischemia and with diabetes who have had a graft, limb salvage is greater than 80 percent five years after treatment.
Varicose Vein Treatments
To repair blood vessels of the legs with damaged or diseased valves, our surgeons offer a variety of surgical and non-surgical treatments.
Venous Closure Procedure
The venous (Vnus) closure procedure, a non-surgical technique, employs catheters to apply radio frequency energy that shrinks and closes diseased veins.
- The 30-minute procedure is done in our vascular laboratory under local anesthesia, and patients usually return to their normal activities the following day.
- In contrast to traditional vein stripping techniques, patients experience little or no scarring, bruising or swelling. Insurers typically cover the cost of the procedure when the varicose veins cause pain.