Cardiovascular Integrated Physicians (CVIP) provides the following vascular and endovascular medicines.
Thoracic and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
An aortic aneurysm is an abnormal bulge in the aorta. There are two main types of aortic aneurysms: thoracic (chest) and abdominal (stomach). The larger the aneurysm, the higher the risk of its rupture, which would cause internal bleeding in the body. The main treatment goal for aortic aneurysm patients is to prevent the aneurysm from growing. This entails adequate blood pressure control and monitoring. Depending on the type and shape of the aneurysm, a minimally invasive procedure may be recommended, such as endovascular stent graft repair, which does not require opening the chest or stomach. Another serious risk of aortic disease is dissection, in which layers of the aortic wall split due to the force of blood pumping, resulting in inter-layer blood leakage. Aortic dissection may lead to serious health problems or death. It may also be treated with the same minimally invasive technique of endovascular stent graft repair.
Endovascular Stent Graft Repair of Thoracic and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
Endovascular stent graft repair of an aneurysm is a minimally invasive procedure in which a catheter is inserted through the femoral artery in the groin to implant a fabric-covered metal wire stent inside of the aorta. The stent reinforces the area of the aorta weakened by the aneurysm, and it reduces the pressure exerted on the aortic wall, thereby diverting blood away from the aneurysm to prevent the aneurysm from growing and/or rupturing. This repair is a hospital-based procedure that requires one to two days of stay in the hospital.
Carotid Artery Stenosis
The carotid arteries are located in the neck and supply blood flow and oxygen to the brain. Carotid artery stenosis is defined as plaque buildup in the carotid arteries. Significant blockage can lead to stroke. Carotid artery disease is diagnosed with a carotid ultrasound completed in a doctor’s office. Further evaluation for carotid artery disease may require computed tomography angiography (CTA) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the neck or carotid angiography. CTA/MRI are non-invasive tools used to generate images of internal body structures for examinations and disease diagnosis. Risk factors for carotid artery stenosis include tobacco use, high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes, and high cholesterol.
Carotid Angiogram and Carotid Stent Placement
A carotid angiogram is an X-ray of carotid arteries that is taken to examine the arteries or cerebral blood vessels for abnormalities. A catheter is advanced through the groin (femoral artery) or wrist (radial artery) and guided all the way to the carotid arteries. The carotid and cerebral arteries are made visible on a real-time X-ray device using dye injected through the catheter to create color contrast on a screen. If a blockage is identified, a stent may be placed at that time to re-open that blocked area. A filter is positioned downstream while a stent is placed within the carotid artery to prevent stroke.
