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Vascular Surgery
UT Southwestern Medical Center provides advanced endovascular surgical procedures for the effective treatment of aneurysm and the narrowing of arteries and veins, also called occlusions or stenosis. Our minimally invasive endovascular surgery options use small incisions to achieve excellent results, allowing patients to experience less discomfort than with traditional open surgery, benefit from a quicker recovery and spend less time in the hospital.
Depending on a patient’s specific condition, our endovascular surgeons can treat an aneurysm or stenosis by repairing blood vessels using a catheter to place a stent (mesh-like tube) at the affected area. Most endovascular procedures do not require general anesthesia and typically require patients to spend only one to two days in the hospital.
Aneurysms
If a patient has an aneurysm, which is a weakness in a blood vessel that causes the vessel to expand, a UT Southwestern endovascular surgeon will carefully evaluate the condition to determine whether the patient is a candidate for a minimally invasive procedure. Computer tomography (CT) scans are used to accurately map the anatomy of an aneurysm and an endovascular surgeon may repair the aneurysm using a stent procedure.
We provide endovascular stent procedures for the effective treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms, thoracic aortic aneurysms, as well as aneurysms in other locations. The expertise of our endovascular surgeons allows UT Southwestern to provide patients with advanced, minimally invasive procedures needed to treat the condition and help avoid complications.
Narrowed Blood Vessels or Stenosis
To open a narrowed vein or artery, an endovascular specialist can correct the condition using a minimally invasive angioplasty procedure. The procedure involves inserting a small balloon through a catheter, which is inflated at the site of the narrowing, and then a stent is moved into place to unblock the blood vessel. When the balloon is deflated and removed, the stent expands and allows the blood vessel to remain open.
Our angioplasty specialists have the knowledge and expertise needed to effectively treat narrowed blood vessels, including coronary (heart) arteries and arteries to the legs. Patients may also be eligible for endovascular procedures involving the use of clot-dissolving drugs (thrombolysis treatments) to help clear a blood vessel.
With minimally invasive endovascular procedures from UT Southwestern, patients can avoid traditional open surgical methods to treat their aneurysm or narrowed blood vessels and benefit from these advanced treatments that will allow them to return home faster and attain a superior state of health.
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