Vascular Medicine

The vascular system is the system of blood vessels, which includes arteries, veins and lymph vessels. The arteries and veins carry blood from the heart to the tissues throughout your body and back again. Vascular diseases involve occlusion, or narrowing of arteries by plaques, causing reduced blood flow through these vessels to the arms, leg, head and neck or to the abdominal organs, such as the kidneys and the bowel. In addition, ballooning of the arteries, usually of the main artery of the body, the aorta, results in aortic aneurysms. Rupture of these may cause bleeding and even death.

Numerous problems can result from these diseases — ranging from leg pain during physical activity (claudication) to deterioration of skin leading to non-healing wound, ulcers and gangrene. In today's modern medicine, many of these issues can be treated using minimally invasive endovascular techniques, such as thrombolytics, venous ablations, angioplasty or stents. Severe cases may sometimes need to proceed to open repair. Aortic aneurysms can be repaired with both endoluminal stent-grafts and open surgery. Acute leg swelling due to blood clots may need treatment with drugs or interventions. Varicose veins are incredibly common, leading to pain and standing discomfort. Often times, these can be treated with a simple, painless outpatient procedure requiring just a few quick hours of care. 

A Team Approach

Our multidisciplinary approach, combining skilled specialists from Surgery, Cardiology, Neurology and Vascular and Interventional Radiology, work together to ensure that you receive the most comprehensive and personal care. Your vascular medicine consultations will be provided here, in Fairmont, and any procedures you need will be done in Mankato.

Learn about the vascular services and treatment options we provide by visiting the links in the menu.