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Expert vascular care

Vascular & Endovascular Surgery

The vascular and endovascular services team at Mayo Clinic Health System provides expert care for diseases that affect your arteries and veins. We offer evidence-based treatments using medications and lifestyle changes, as well as minimally invasive and open surgical procedures.

Our team collaborates with specialists in many areas, including cardiology, interventional radiology, podiatry and wound care, to customize care for you. This multidisciplinary approach, backed by the expertise of Mayo Clinic, ensures you receive the right treatments for your needs.

Find out more about our vascular and endovascular services:

Conditions and consultations

Vascular and endovascular surgery focuses on conditions affecting blood vessels throughout your body, except those in your brain and heart. Vascular diseases often involve the narrowing or abnormal widening of arteries and veins.

Common signs of chronic vascular conditions include:

Foot pain at night
Leg swelling
Pain with walking
Wounds that do not heal

However, some vascular diseases show no symptoms until a stroke or aneurysm rupture occurs.

Common conditions we treat include:

Aortic aneurysm
Aortic dissection
Aortic ulcers
Arteriosclerosis/atherosclerosis
Arteriovenous fistula
Carotid artery disease
Critical limb ischemia
Fibromuscular dysplasia
Intestinal ischemia
Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome
Median arcuate ligament syndrome
Nutcracker syndrome
Pelvic congestion syndrome
Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
Popliteal artery aneurysm
Renal aneurysms
Renal artery stenosis
Takayasu's arteritis
Thoracic outlet syndrome
Thrombophlebitis
Varicocele
Varicose veins
Vascular infections and complications
Vascular malformations
Venous diseases
Venous leg swelling
Venous tumors
Venous ulcers
Vertebral artery disease

Diagnosis and treatments

Our providers use advanced technologies and techniques to diagnose and treat vascular conditions. At every step, they work with you to decide the right care path to fit your needs and lifestyle.

Diagnosing vascular diseases

We diagnose vascular diseases based on your symptoms, medical history and a physical exam. Imaging tests that show the details of your blood vessels are also essential.

The most common vascular imaging tests are X-ray, ultrasound, CT scan and MRI. In some cases, your provider needs a highly specialized test to make an accurate diagnosis, such as:

Ankle-brachial index: This noninvasive blood pressure study measures the amount of oxygen-rich blood reaching your lower extremities.
Doppler ultrasound: This ultrasound test looks at blood flow through your blood vessels. Providers often use it to diagnose vascular conditions in the neck, abdomen and extremities.
CT angiogram: This CT test uses an injected dye to obtain high-resolution “road map” images of your blood vessels. It is most helpful for operative planning.

Treating vascular diseases

Medications are a common treatment for most vascular diseases. Your provider may also recommend lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, eating a healthier diet and managing your weight.

If medications and lifestyle changes are not effective, your provider may recommend a surgical procedure. If possible, we will offer minimally invasive endovascular surgery that supports a quicker, less painful recovery. Endovascular procedures treat the problem from inside the blood vessel. The surgeon uses wires, balloons and stents and a dedicated operating room equipped with a special type of X-ray called fluoroscopy.

When endovascular procedures are not successful or not an option, you may need open surgery. Our goal is always to perform open surgery safely and achieve the best possible results so you can return to an improved quality of life.

Surgical treatments we offer include:

Aortic aneurysm repair: This treatment includes endovascular and open surgical procedures for aneurysms to prevent rupture and clotting (thrombosis).
Balloon angioplasty and stenting: This endovascular procedure opens an artery narrowed or blocked by plaque.
Carotid endarterectomy: This surgical procedure treats carotid artery disease, a leading cause of stroke. It requires opening the carotid artery and removing the plaque.
Endovenous radiofrequency ablation (RFA): This endovascular procedure treats varicose veins by using a heat source to collapse and shrink veins. Blood flow redirects to healthier veins nearby.
Vascular bypass surgery: This surgical treatment is for blocked arteries. The surgeon reroutes blood flow around the blockage using a vein from your own body or an artificial artery.

Vascular and endovascular care specialists

Our vascular surgeons have extensive expertise and often collaborate with other specialists to create a customized team. Every member of your team is committed to patient-centered care to help you feel better, sooner.

Our specialists include:

Vascular surgeons

You may also receive care from specialists in:

Referrals

A referral is required. Talk to your primary care provider to arrange a referral.

If you are a provider, you can refer a patient online, by phone or by fax.

FAQ

Am I at risk for vascular disease?

The risk of vascular disease increases as you age. Other risk factors include:

Diabetes
Family history of stroke or heart disease
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Smoking

How can I prevent vascular disease?

Vascular disease is not always preventable. However, you can often reduce your risk by making basic lifestyle changes. Physical activity is typically the best prevention strategy, and walking is the most efficient exercise. And when you focus on healthy living, you benefit in all aspects of your life.

The most important changes you can make include:

Aim to walk more than 3,000 steps every day
Eat a heart-healthy diet
Get a good night's sleep
Keep up with regular health screenings
Maintain a healthy weight
Manage stress
Quit smoking

Can you provide a second opinion?

Yes. Call the appointment number at your preferred location.

What are my payment options, and do you offer financial assistance?

Our Patient Account Services representatives can assist you with any issues related to billing and insurance. We also offer financial assistance if you are unable to pay for care due to financial hardship.