Vascular surgery

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At Atrium Health Floyd and Harbin Clinic, our vascular medicine specialists provide comprehensive care. We use new technologies such as catheter-based treatments that require only small incisions as well as traditional surgical approaches. We're recognized leaders in vascular treatments, including aneurysm repair, carotid artery reconstruction and bypass surgery.

What is vascular surgery?

Vascular surgery is a medical specialty that focuses on treating the blood vessels outside your heart. Vascular surgeons use both minimally invasive and open techniques to treat blood vessel blockages, aneurysms, vein disease and other blood vessel problems. The primary goal of vascular surgery is to improve blood flow and ensure that your body's tissues get the oxygen and nutrients they need.

Types of vascular surgery

Vascular surgeons may use open approaches, where they operate through one large incision. When possible, they often opt for endovascular approaches. Endovascular procedures use long, flexible tubes (catheters) and imaging guidance to treat blood vessels through very small incisions.

There are multiple types of vascular procedures, including:

Aneurysm repair: An aneurysm is a weak, bulging spot in your blood vessel. A vascular surgeon uses open or endovascular techniques to reinforce the weak area with a graft (fabric-covered tube).
Angioplasty and stenting: Your surgeon inserts a catheter through your blood vessel and directs it to a blocked artery. They inflate a balloon to open the artery, then place a small mesh tube (stent) to keep it open.
Bypass surgery: A vascular surgeon reroutes blood flow around a blocked artery. They use a healthy vein from elsewhere in your body or a mesh tube to create a new path for blood flow.
Carotid artery reconstruction: Carotid artery reconstruction is the term for procedures that restore blood flow to the carotid arteries, which supply the brain with blood. Your surgeon may make an incision over the artery so they can remove plaque (fatty substance build-up) from it. Or they may use minimally invasive techniques to place a stent that improves blood flow.
Endarterectomy: This procedure removes plaque buildup from inside your arteries. Vascular surgeons often perform this procedure on the carotid arteries to improve blood flow to your brain and lower your risk of stroke.
Microphlebectomy: This minimally invasive procedure treats varicose veins. A vascular surgeon makes small incisions over the affected veins, then uses a hook-like device to remove them.
Sclerotherapy: A vascular surgeon injects a special solution into varicose or spider veins. This solution closes the vein, and blood flow reroutes to other healthy veins. The closed vein fades over time.
VenaSeal™: Like sclerotherapy, this procedure injects a special adhesive into varicose or spider veins. The affected vein closes and fades, and blood reroutes to other healthy veins.
Venefit™: This treatment uses a catheter and radiofrequency energy to close varicose veins. Like other vein treatments, the affected vein closes and fades, and blood reroutes elsewhere.

Conditions treated with vascular surgery

Vascular surgeons specialize in conditions that affect the blood vessels outside your heart. Some of these conditions include:

Aortic aneurysms, bulging spots in your largest artery (aorta)
Blood vessel blockages, which often develop due to plaque buildup
Carotid artery disease, narrowing in the arteries that send blood to your brain
Chronic venous insufficiency, when your leg veins don't pump enough blood back to your heart
Deep vein thrombosis, a blood clot in one of your deep veins
Hyperlipidemia, high blood fats, which can lead to artery blockages
Peripheral artery disease, blockages in your leg's arteries
Pulmonary embolism, a blood clot that travels to your lungs
Renovascular conditions, which affect the blood vessels of your kidneys
Thoracic outlet syndrome, nerve and blood vessel compression in the upper chest below your collarbone
Varicose veins, enlarged, twisted veins