Vascular Condition
Endovascular Procedures
Endovascular procedures are minimally invasive techniques used to diagnose and treat conditions of the blood vessels from within, using catheters and guidewires introduced through small punctures in the skin. These techniques have transformed vascular surgery, offering patients effective treatment with shorter hospital stays and faster recovery compared to open surgery.
Symptoms
- Endovascular procedures treat a range of vascular conditions
- Common indications include limb-threatening ischaemia, claudication, aneurysm, and carotid disease
Causes & Risk Factors
- Atherosclerotic narrowing or occlusion of arteries
- Aneurysmal dilatation of blood vessels
- Traumatic vascular injury
- Venous obstruction
Treatment
Common endovascular procedures include: balloon angioplasty, stent placement, endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), carotid artery stenting, and catheter-directed thrombolysis for acute arterial occlusion. Procedures are performed under image guidance.
Recovery & Aftercare
Most endovascular procedures are performed under local anaesthesia or light sedation, with discharge the same day or the following day. Recovery is significantly faster than equivalent open surgical procedures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Endovascular procedures carry fewer risks than open surgery in most cases, including lower rates of wound complications, blood loss, and anaesthetic risk.
Most endovascular procedures are performed under local anaesthesia with sedation if needed. You will be comfortable and monitored throughout.
When to Seek Medical Advice
- When conventional vascular symptoms are present
- After referral from a physician or specialist for vascular intervention