Arterial Interventions
Tiny incisions for a faster recovery
If you have peripheral artery disease or an abdominal aortic aneurysm, you might be able to have minimally invasive treatment instead of surgery. These arterial intervention procedures involve your doctor using imaging and making only very small incisions.
Overview
If you have peripheral artery disease or an abdominal aortic aneurysm, you might be able to have minimally invasive treatment instead of surgery. These arterial intervention procedures involve your doctor using imaging and making only very small incisions.
Minimally Invasive Testing and Treatment for Artery Problems
In the past, open surgery was the only way to treat peripheral artery disease or an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Today, that’s not the case. You can have these conditions treated with minimally invasive procedures that require only a very small incision – usually in your upper leg.
Some of these procedures include:
Angioplasty and stenting for peripheral arterial disease
During this procedure, your doctor will thread a catheter (hollow tube) through an artery in your upper leg to the blocked artery. Then, a balloon is inflated to open the blocked blood vessel. Sometimes your doctor inserts a stent (tiny metal cylinder) in the vessel to keep it open. You will have a very small incision in your leg for this procedure.
Angiography for peripheral arterial disease
This is an X-ray of your arteries to help diagnose blood vessel problems. Your doctor will thread a catheter through an artery in your upper leg to the area that needs a closer look. Then, a dye is injected into the vessel to help it show up on the X-ray. If your doctor spots a blocked blood vessel during the exam, he may be able to treat it at the same time. You will have a very small incision in your leg for this procedure.
Atherectomy for peripheral arterial disease
During this procedure, your doctor will insert a catheter through a very small incision in your upper leg. On the end of the catheter is a blade. When the catheter reaches the area where you have plaque (buildup) in your blood vessel, the doctor will use the blade to remove the plaque and pull it out through the catheter.
Stent grafts for peripheral arterial disease
During this procedure, your doctor will insert a catheter in your upper leg and thread it to a blocked blood vessel. A small stent covered with synthetic fabric is then inserted into the vessel to keep it open or seal an aneurysm (bulge in the blood vessel). You will have a very small incision in your leg for this procedure.
Segmental arterial pressure exam for peripheral arterial disease
This noninvasive test checks for blockages in your legs. During the test, you’ll have blood pressure cuffs put on your arms and legs. Your doctor or technician will use a probe and ultrasound to check the blood pressure throughout your legs.
Endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm
During this procedure, your doctor will guide a catheter from your upper leg to your artery and, through the tube, place a stent in your aneurysm to keep it from bursting. You will have a very small incision in your leg for this procedure.
What to Expect
Minimally Invasive Testing and Treatment for Artery Problems
In the past, open surgery was the only way to treat peripheral artery disease or an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Today, that’s not the case. You can have these conditions treated with minimally invasive procedures that require only a very small incision – usually in your upper leg.
Some of these procedures include:
Angioplasty and stenting for peripheral arterial disease
During this procedure, your doctor will thread a catheter (hollow tube) through an artery in your upper leg to the blocked artery. Then, a balloon is inflated to open the blocked blood vessel. Sometimes your doctor inserts a stent (tiny metal cylinder) in the vessel to keep it open. You will have a very small incision in your leg for this procedure.
Angiography for peripheral arterial disease
This is an X-ray of your arteries to help diagnose blood vessel problems. Your doctor will thread a catheter through an artery in your upper leg to the area that needs a closer look. Then, a dye is injected into the vessel to help it show up on the X-ray. If your doctor spots a blocked blood vessel during the exam, he may be able to treat it at the same time. You will have a very small incision in your leg for this procedure.
Atherectomy for peripheral arterial disease
During this procedure, your doctor will insert a catheter through a very small incision in your upper leg. On the end of the catheter is a blade. When the catheter reaches the area where you have plaque (buildup) in your blood vessel, the doctor will use the blade to remove the plaque and pull it out through the catheter.
Stent grafts for peripheral arterial disease
During this procedure, your doctor will insert a catheter in your upper leg and thread it to a blocked blood vessel. A small stent covered with synthetic fabric is then inserted into the vessel to keep it open or seal an aneurysm (bulge in the blood vessel). You will have a very small incision in your leg for this procedure.
Segmental arterial pressure exam for peripheral arterial disease
This noninvasive test checks for blockages in your legs. During the test, you’ll have blood pressure cuffs put on your arms and legs. Your doctor or technician will use a probe and ultrasound to check the blood pressure throughout your legs.
Endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm
During this procedure, your doctor will guide a catheter from your upper leg to your artery and, through the tube, place a stent in your aneurysm to keep it from bursting. You will have a very small incision in your leg for this procedure.
