Listed below are some of the more common vascular surgery procedures performed by Swan Surgical.

Endovascular stent grafts for aneurysms
Endovascular stent grafts are used to reinforce a weak spot in an artery called an aneurysm. Over time, blood pressure and other factors can cause this weak area to bulge like a balloon and it can eventually enlarge and rupture. The stent graft is delivered to the affected area of the artery through a small incision in the groin where it is then expanded to seal tightly with the artery above and below the aneurysm, allowing blood to pass through without pushing on the bulge. Endovascular stent grafting is typically used to treat abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs), but they also use it to treat thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs) and aneurysms in other locations.

Carotid stenting procedures
Carotid stenting procedures involve placing a slender, metal-mesh tube, called a stent, into the carotid artery to increase blood flow in areas blocked by a build up of plaque. The build up of plaque in the arteries that run up the neck and supply blood to the brain is called carotid artery disease. This is a serious issue because clots can form on the plaque and block the blood flow to the brain. If a clot or plaque blocks the blood flow to the brain, it can cause an ischemic stroke or an arterial embolism. The stent is delivered to the affected area of the artery through a small incision in the arm or groin.

Carotid endarterectomy
Carotid endarterectomy is an alternative surgery for treating carotid artery disease. During this procedure, the surgeon opens the affected artery, removes the fatty plaque, and closes the artery.

Surgical bypass
Surgical bypass treats narrowed arteries by redirecting, or bypassing, blood flow around a blocked section of an artery. Arteries can become blocked through a process called atherosclerosis, which means hardening of the arteries by a build up of plaque on the artery walls. During a bypass procedure, a surgeon creates a new pathway for blood flow using a graft made from a portion of one of your veins or a man-made synthetic tube. This graft is connected above and below the blockage to allow blood to pass through it and around the blockage. Surgeons use bypasses most commonly to treat diseased arteries in the legs and arms, as well as blockages involving blood vessels in other locations in the body.

Renal artery stents
Renal artery stents are used to treat renal artery stenosis, the narrowing of the arteries of the kidneys, called the renal arteries. Like other arteries of the body, the renal arteries can become blocked and hardened by a build up of plaque through a process called atherosclerosis. To treat this condition, a catheter is inserted through a small puncture site, or sometimes a small incision, and guided through your blood vessels to the renal artery. A tiny metal-mesh tube called a stent is placed in the artery to hold it open.

Lower extremity arterial stents
Lower extremity arterial stents are like other stenting procedures, used to treat blocked arteries in the legs.

Balloon angioplasty
Balloon angioplasty is used to open narrowed arteries by pushing plaque out of the way using a balloon. A catheter with a very small balloon on its tip is placed in the artery and is threaded to reach the narrowed or blocked artery. The balloon is inflated inside the artery, pushing away the plaque that has built up against the artery walls. Once the artery is opened, the balloon is deflated and removed.

Vascular access procedures
Vascular access procedures involve the insertion of a flexible thin plastic tube, or catheter, into a blood vessel to provide a convenient way of drawing blood or delivering drugs and nutrients into a patient’s bloodstream. This entranceway into the bloodstream lies completely beneath the skin and is usually located in the arm, but sometimes it’s located in the leg. It allows blood to be removed and returned during dialysis or, less commonly, for other procedures requiring frequent access to the bloodstream.

Isolated Pharmacomechanical Thrombolysis
Isolated Pharmacomechanical Thrombolysis removes large clot burden, restores blood flow and helps to preserve valvular function for acute above the knee and upper extremity Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). A catheter with two balloons is used to surround the clot then mix up the clot and initiate clot breakdown. The broken-down clot matter is then easily removed. This is a relatively quick procedure that typically results in symptomatic relief within 24 hours, and normally does not require a stay in an Intensive Care Unit.

For information on procedures not listed here, please contact our office.