Vascular Surgery

What is the difference between vascular and endovascular surgery?

Endovascular surgery is a minimally invasive treatment option for certain artery and vein conditions. These procedures use a catheter that travels through your arteries to the site of the blocked, narrowed, or weakened vessel, and treats the condition from within. However, not every condition or patient is a candidate for endovascular surgery. In some cases, Dr. Morris must reach the impacted vessel directly, by way of a surgical incision.

What types of vascular surgery are available?

Aneurysm repair

An aneurysm is the bulging of an artery wall due to weakness. The bulge can rupture and cause internal bleeding. During vascular surgical aneurysm repair, Dr. Morris makes an incision in the skin just above the location of the bulge. Once he locates the aneurysm, he clamps both sides surrounding it and cuts it out. The sides are then reattached with an artificial tube that he stitches into the place of the removed aneurysm. Once completed, the blood can flow easily through the vein.

Leg bypass

If you have a blocked artery in one of your legs due to a buildup of fatty deposits, Dr. Morris performs a peripheral artery bypass to reroute the blood supply around a blocked artery. During this procedure, he reaches the blocked artery through an incision in the skin above it. Then he uses an artificial graft to replace or bypass the blocked part of the artery, providing a substitute pathway.

Carotid endarterectomy

If you have a narrowing of the carotid artery, you are at a high risk for a stroke. A carotid endarterectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the plaque buildup inside of the artery. The procedure is done in a hospital, often under general anesthesia, or, in some cases, local anesthesia. Dr. Morris makes an incision on your neck to reach the blocked artery and removes the plaque buildup. During the procedure, a temporary tube allows blood to keep flowing while the blocked area is cleaned.

Phlebectomy

Phlebectomy is a procedure for removing varicose veins in the legs.  Dr. Morris performs this procedure in his office with the use of local anesthesia. The procedure interrupts the bulging painful veins through a small micro-puncture. No stitches are needed, so there is minimal long-term scarring.

Read more about phlebectomy here: PHLEBECTOMY

No matter which vascular condition needs treatment, Dr. Morris provides personal, professional, and compassionate care to each patient of Lonestar Surgical Specialists P.A. Call or click to make an appointment today.