Treatments & Procedures
Vascular Surgeries in Pensacola and Gulf Breeze, FL
At Panhandle Vascular Surgical Specialists, we stand out in our field by offering a diverse selection of services designed specifically to cater to your health needs.
Our treatment plans are always based on what’s best for you, and we always opt for nonsurgical solutions when possible. When surgery is necessary, we can perform the full spectrum of traditional, “open” vascular surgeries as well as minimally invasive endovascular procedures such as balloon angioplasty and stenting.
All procedures are performed by our highly qualified and experienced vascular surgeons in an area hospital on either an inpatient or outpatient basis.
Some of the more common treatments and procedures include:
Atherectomy is a minimally invasive procedure performed to remove calcium and soft plaque that builds up inside arteries. Our vascular surgeons prefer this method – specifically orbital atherectomy – for treating peripheral artery disease.
A guidewire with a diamond-coated crown on the end is inserted into the affected artery and, with a 360-degree orbital motion, sands down the hardened plaque buildup without damaging the artery wall. The procedure may be used in conjunction with balloon angioplasty.
These minimally invasive procedures are performed to widen narrowed or blocked arteries to improve or reestablish blood flow. Angioplasty involves inserting a catheter into an artery and injecting dye to identify blockages. This is done using fluoroscopy, or X-ray guidance.
Next, a balloon is inserted through the catheter and inflated to expand the blocked artery. The balloon is then deflated and removed, while dye is injected again to assess whether blood flow has improved. If blood flow is still not sufficient, a permanent stent may be placed within the artery to keep it propped open and aid blood flow.
A stent is a small, flexible, tube-like metal device that expands to the size of artery. It can be used in virtually any artery throughout the body and is often used in procedures to repair aneurysms and dissections.
Used to treat carotid artery disease (CAD) and reduce the risk of stroke, a carotid endarterectomy involves surgically removing the hardened buildup from artery walls.
It is typically performed in a traditional, “open” procedure via an incision at the front of the neck. Patients are typically advised to undergo periodic carotid ultrasound imaging afterward to check for another buildup of plaque in the area.
This is a nonsurgical method of treating deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Catheter-directed thrombolytic therapy uses thrombolytic medication to dissolve blood clots.
In this outpatient procedure, a catheter enters a vein (typically at the groin) and is threaded to the area with the blood clot (usually in the leg). X-ray imaging is used to guide its placement. The clot-dissolving medication is administered to the area via the catheter. The blood clot is either broken up or suctioned up via the catheter as well, if needed.
Diabetic foot care describes a wide range of therapeutic and preventive care treatments used to preserve the health and well-being of the feet of a person with diabetes.
Foot problems are a serious concern for those with diabetes. These patients are prone to developing peripheral artery disease (PAD), which restricts blood flow to the extremities, as well as peripheral neuropathy, or nerve damage, which causes a loss of sensation and inability to feel pain in the extremities and especially the feet.
For example, a diabetic patient with PAD and peripheral neuropathy may spend the day walking with too-tight shoes or a stone in their shoe and never notice it (due to the neuropathy). If the skin of the foot is punctured or rubbed away by friction, the area could easily become infected and quickly lead to gangrene or tissue death (due to the lack of blood flow to the area). This, in turn, can result in amputation of the dead tissue to stop the spread of the infection.
Issues such as corns, callouses, wounds, and fungal infections require immediate treatment to prevent complications.
For patients with kidney failure, arteriovenous (AV) access is the initial surgical procedure that creates a point of access for long-term hemodialysis treatments. Hemodialysis involves blood flowing out of the body and through an external filter to remove waste, salt, and extra water, then re-entering the body. Large quantities of blood move quickly through the dialysis process and could potentially stress and collapse a patient’s veins.
The vascular surgeon can prepare access to your blood vessels in a number of ways, the most common of which is called an AV fistula and involves surgically connecting an artery and vein in the forearm to create a larger blood vessel.
Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is the treatment of choice for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), in which a bulge (aneurysm) appears in the aortic artery at the abdominal level. Because aortic aneurysms are at risk of rupture, which can be life-threatening, EVAR is generally recommended once an aneurysm is identified.
The minimally invasive procedure involves inserting a catheter into an artery at the groin and threading it to the area of the aneurysm using X-ray guidance. A fabric-covered wire frame (a stent with graft material) is placed at the area of the aneurysm to buttress the artery wall and decrease the size of the aneurysm.
The aorta is the largest artery in the body, running down the center of the body, from the heart to the groin. When the innermost layer of the aorta tears, blood travels between the aorta’s inner and middle layers, causing the two to separate (dissect). This is considered a life-threatening medical emergency. It can occur anywhere along the length of the aorta.
Endovascular treatment of aortic dissection is a minimally invasive approach that involves replacing the dissected part of the aorta with a synthetic graft. A stent may also be placed to support the area.
Sometimes a traditional or “open” surgical approach is necessary to repair a section of the aorta (the body’s largest artery) that has torn.
During the surgery (also called open-heart surgery), an incision is made from your chest to abdomen, and your ribs are spread. Blood flow to the damaged area is clamped shut while the area is repaired. Then the clamps are removed so that blood flow can resume.
A peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) is a small, flexible tube threaded through a vein in the upper arm to the heart. It is used to create an intravenous line through which medications, fluids, blood transfusions, or other exchanges can occur.
A PICC line is installed when you require IV treatments for a long period of time, such as during cancer therapy (for chemotherapy delivery). It spares your veins from frequent needle sticks.
A surgical bypass procedure is performed to reroute blood flow around an obstruction in a blood vessel. A synthetic graft is surgically inserted at either end of the obstruction, with blood flow resuming through the graft vessel.
The procedure is usually categorized by where in the body it is occurring and which blood vessel is being bypassed.
Aortoiliac occlusive disease is a blood flow blockage that occurs where the aorta, the body’s largest artery running down the center of the body, divides into the iliac arteries to supply oxygen and blood to the legs. Surgical bypass to treat this condition involves rerouting blood flow from the aorta to the legs.
When an endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is performed for an aneurysm at the chest level, it is called a thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) procedure. A TEVAR is used to treat a thoracic aortic aneurysm.
Contact Our Vascular Surgeons Today!
If you’re in need of medical care or treatment for a health condition affecting the vascular or circulatory system, don’t wait. Contact Panhandle Vascular Surgical Specialists today to find out how we can help you. Call (850) 437-3777 or request an appointment now.
