Vascular disease
Vascular disease is a broad term used to describe conditions and diseases affecting the arteries and veins. These blood vessels are vital for blood circulation throughout the body, and problems with vascular function may result in adverse health effects.
Vascular care in Kansas City
Our dedicated team of board-certified physicians offers comprehensive care for the most complex vascular problems.
Your vascular system helps your body's essential functions run as they should. At the HCA Midwest Health Heart and Vascular Institute, we value this system and the important role it plays, so we use leading-edge technology, the latest research and minimally invasive techniques to provide the best possible outcomes for any issues you may have.
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Related specialties
Learn more about our related specialties.
About us
As part of our vascular services, we offer four vein clinics throughout Kansas City that offer treatments for a range of conditions, including chronic venous insufficiency and varicose veins.
Vascular disease treatment you can trust
Because our vein specialists are trained in vascular disease, they can take a thorough approach to evaluation that lets them identify the true cause of your symptoms, while developing an effective treatment plan.
With multiple locations around the Kansas City area, you won't have to travel far to get the relief you need, including services, such as interventional radiology.
With extensive access to facilities with dedicated vascular services, components of our program you can benefit from include:
- Advanced vascular treatments — Whenever possible, we utilize life-saving therapies and minimally invasive endovascular approaches that offer faster recoveries and shorter hospital stays. When needed, we also offer open surgical procedures not widely available at other facilities.
- Experienced physicians — Our physicians are at the core of what we do, and are just one of the many reasons that so many in Kansas City choose HCA Midwest for expertise in vascular surgery.
- Individualized care plans — Effective treatment begins with a plan, and our vascular specialists tailor care based on your unique pathology for the best possible outcomes.
- Multidisciplinary team-based care approach — With teams consisting of vascular surgeons, cardiothoracic surgeons, interventional cardiologists, cardiologists, registered nurses and associated technicians, our vascular specialists team up to perform complex procedures and expedite care for faster, safer treatment.
- Numerous vein clinic locations — Our facilities are staffed by vein specialists who specialize in the treatment of both vein and vascular diseases.
Vascular surgery treatment
Regardless of the type or severity of your condition, our vascular surgeons strive to provide you with greater health and functionality through advanced surgical procedures designed to improve your life, with the least amount of bodily stress.
Aortic aneurysm surgery
Aortic aneurysms are bulges in the wall of the aorta. These conditions can lead to aortic dissections (tears) and ruptures, which can be fatal.
If you experience any type of symptomatic abdominal and thoracic aortic aneurysm, you will need to undergo a surgical procedure. For aneurysms without symptoms, surgery isn't recommended until they are at risk of rupturing, or until other complications outweigh the risk of surgery.
Thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysm repairs can be done via open surgery or a minimally invasive endovascular procedure. During an endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), a small incision is made in the groin, and a catheter is guided up to the aneurysm. Here, a stent graft is deployed to reinforce and seal off the area, so that blood can flow, without risking rupture.
Fenestrated graft for difficult abdominal aortic aneurysm
With endovascular aortic aneurysm repairs, the surgeon places a stent below the kidney arteries. For the graft to seal, there needs to be about one centimeter of the normal aorta. However, about 10 percent of aneurysms are too close to the kidney arteries to use this approach. Until recently, open surgery, or no surgery, was the only option for these instances.
Our surgeons custom-build grafts based on your unique anatomy. This custom graft has holes, or, fenestrations, that line up with the renal arteries. This allows the graft to seal, without shutting off the blood supply to the kidneys. Using this minimally invasive approach, we can treat difficult aortic aneurysms, which may result in a shorter hospital stay and quicker recovery.
Vascular surgery for carotid artery disease
The carotid artery carries blood through the neck and into the brain. Carotid disease occurs when plaque builds up inside the carotid artery. It can block blood flow to the brain, and is one of the leading causes of a cerebrovascular accident (stroke), accounting for up to 40 percent of all strokes. Whether or not you are actively presenting symptoms, surgery to clean out the artery may be recommended.
Carotid endarterectomy (CEA)
A carotid endarterectomy is a surgery used to treat carotid artery disease. During the procedure, a vascular surgeon makes an incision in the neck and removes the plaque clogging the artery. CEA is regularly referred to as a standard treatment for carotid artery disease due to the low procedural stroke risk, and you are typically able to recover in the hospital for just one-to-two nights. After surgery, you may need to limit physical activity for a week, and your neck may ache for up to two weeks.
Transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR)
TCAR is an advanced, minimally invasive method of treating carotid artery disease. During a TCAR procedure, a vascular surgeon makes a small incision just above the collar bone to access the carotid artery. Then, a tube is inserted into the artery. Blood flow is temporarily reversed away from the brain, and any potential debris is collected in a filter. A stent is then put in place to stabilize the plaque against the wall of the artery and reduce the possibility of a stroke. Among carotid stenting procedures, TCAR has the lowest risk of stroke. After a TCAR procedure, you will usually stay in the hospital overnight for monitoring. There is virtually no recovery period, as you are able to resume your normal activities right away.
Surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome
Thoracic outlet syndrome occurs when nerves, arteries or veins just below your neck are compressed, which can cause chronic pain in your shoulder, arm, neck and head. During surgery, a vascular surgeon decompresses the thoracic outlet by removing the first rib, one of the neck muscles and some scar tissue.
It is common to stay in the hospital for two nights after this procedure. You'll need to limit physical activity for four to six weeks after surgery, and physical therapy will be needed. While for many, symptoms are immediately resolved, it can take up to a year to fully recover.
Treatment for peripheral vascular disease (PVD)
PVD occurs when your peripheral blood vessels narrow, typically due to plaque buildup. When this happens, you can begin to experience poor circulation in your feet or legs. If you are experiencing severe circulatory issues, early treatment is essential to reduce your risk of amputation. If lifestyle changes and medications are not enough, our vascular surgeons offer minimally invasive endovascular (inside the blood vessel) approaches to treating PVD, such as:
- Balloon angioplasty — In this surgery, a small balloon is used to open the narrowed artery.
- Stenting — Here, a small mesh tube is used to hold open the artery.
- Laser atherectomy — These surgeries use a tiny laser through a catheter to remove plaque.
Open surgical procedures may also be used when endovascular procedures are not an option. Some that we offer include:
- Peripheral artery bypass — Here, the surgeon places a plastic tube, or uses a blood vessel, to reroute the blockage's blood flow.
- Endarterectomy — This type of surgery removes plaque from a blood vessel.
The Vein Clinic
The specialists at the Vein Clinic at HCA Midwest Health Heart and Vascular Institute work to develop a treatment plan that gets you back on your feet and enjoying life.
Our locations
When you come to us for your care, you will be expertly treated by experienced vascular surgeons and board-certified doctors who are highly trained in cardiac care, as well as diagnosing and treating vascular diseases affecting the superficial veins, deep veins and arteries. Our locations that offer vein clinics include:
Varicose vein treatment options
Varicose veins are caused by the breakdown of the valve system in veins close to the skin. This breakdown doesn’t allow blood to travel back to the heart, and causes blood to pool in the lower legs. The increased volume and pressure of that blood can cause severe pain and discomfort.
Varicose veins aren't just a cosmetic concern, as vein disease is significantly underdiagnosed and can often be accompanied by health issues that affect your quality of life. When experiencing varicose veins, most people with lifestyle-limiting symptoms can see improvement through evaluation and care from a doctor trained and skilled in vein treatment.
Compression stockings
This is a first-line, noninvasive treatment used to apply pressure to the legs and improve blood flow. Adopting these can be beneficial in many ways, chief of which being that some insurance companies may require three-to-nine months of use before covering any type of minimally invasive treatment.
Medical adhesive vein closure
In this low-risk, catheter-based procedure, your surgeon uses ultrasound guidance and glue to close problematic veins. They will first numb a small area slightly below the knee, then insert a catheter into your vein. The adhesive is applied inside the vein, and the vein is pressed from the outside to glue it shut. This procedure offers reduced discomfort and recovery time in comparison to other vein closure procedures.
Venous ablation
The two types of venous ablation include radiofrequency ablation and laser ablation. In radiofrequency venous ablation, problematic veins are closed from the inside, using microwave-type energy and ultrasound guidance. Laser venous ablation is performed the same way, but uses laser energy to seal the vein.
Venous ablation is a low-risk outpatient procedure performed using a local anesthetic. The procedure can take about an hour, and many see significant improvement in their symptoms in as little as one week or less.
The procedure has been shown to improve symptoms, such as pain, swelling, aching, heaviness, fatigue, prominence of varicosities, and, sometimes, neurologic symptoms (such as restless leg) if there was a venous trigger.
Varicose vein removal
Vein surgery is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure used to remove varicose veins. During the procedure, a local anesthetic is administered, and your vein surgeon will make very tiny incisions to remove the troublesome vein. The surgery takes about an hour.
In most cases, you can return to normal activity immediately after treatment. Strenuous activity should be avoided, but walking is encouraged to assist with the movement of blood. There is virtually no scarring, and results can be seen very quickly after treatment.
How do you prevent varicose veins?
While family history has a lot to do with whether you develop varicose veins, there are some things you can do to help prevent or slow the development of the venous disease, including:
- Abstaining from smoking
- Avoiding heavy lifting
- Eschewing prolonged standing or sitting
- Exercising and moving regularly
- Working to evade knee surgery or leg trauma
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