Vascular and endovascular surgeons in the Heart & Vascular Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) provide expert, individualized care for a range of vascular conditions.
From the common to the complex—including traditional open heart bypass surgeries to innovations in minimally invasive endovascular procedures, our surgeons are at the forefront of surgical care for patients with vascular disease. Because of our surgeons’ extensive training and clinical experience and the high volume of procedures they perform, patients have optimal outcomes.
Below is a list of vascular and endovascular procedures performed by surgeons at the Heart & Vascular Center.
Aneurysm Repair
Traditional open surgery replaces the diseased portion of the aorta with an artificial graft. Minimally invasive endovascular repair guides a stent-graft to the weakened area of the aorta wall with imaging guidance through a small incision. Learn more about aneurysm repair.
Bypass Surgery—Peripheral
Open heart surgical bypass operations are performed to restore circulation to affected extremities and vital organs when arterial blockages are diffuse or severe. Treatment is designed depending on the degree of symptoms, overall medical status, and the anatomy of the arterial blockages. Learn more about peripheral bypass surgery.
Carotid Angioplasty and Stenting
During this minimally invasive procedure, a very small hollow tube, or catheter, is advanced from a blood vessel in the groin to the carotid arteries. Once the catheter is in place, a balloon may be inflated to open the carotid artery and a stent is put in place to keep the artery open. Learn more about carotid angioplasty and stenting.
Carotid Endarterectomy
This is the surgical removal of plaque from a carotid artery that has become narrowed or blocked. Performed through a small incision in the neck, carotid endarterectomy can help prevent stroke. Learn more about cartoid endarterectomy.
Dialysis Access Surgery
This procedure creates a vein that removes and returns blood to the body for long-term-use for patients undergoing dialysis. Learn more about dialysis access surgery.
Endovascular Repair
Highly-skilled surgeons treat complex vascular conditions by employing the endovascular technique of inserting a catheter directly into the blood vessel to deliver medications or miniature surgical instruments. Such surgeries can include aortic valve or aortic aneurysm repair. Learn more about endovascular repair.
Stent Graft
A stent graft is a large metal stent (a tube inserted in a blood vessel) sheathed in a tube of woven synthetic. The stent graft is inserted in a blood vessel during a catheterization procedure and is used to keep coronary, carotid and peripheral arteries open and to repair aortic aneurysms. Learn more about stent grafts.
Thromboendarterectomy
An open heart procedure done through a sternotomy (chest) incision, as are most cardiac surgical procedures, a thromboendarterectomy removes fibrous tissue or clots from the pulmonary arteries. Learn more about thromboendarterectomy.
Thrombolytic Therapy
Clot busters, medically known as thrombolytics, are used to dissolve blood clots that form in the heart, blood vessels or lungs, especially during a heart attack. Thrombolytic therapy can significantly raise a patient's chances for survival after a heart attack. Learn more about thrombolytic therapy.
Varicose Vein Treatment
Varicose veins are enlarged veins that are visible through the skin and may appear as blue or purple twisted, knot-like cords. Varicose veins can occur anywhere in the body, but are more commonly found on the legs. Learn more about varicose vein treatment.
