Vascular Medicine

---

Vascular medicine focuses on conditions and diseases that affect arteries and veins, and impair blood flow. Vascular disease can contribute to coronary artery disease (heart attack) and stroke, two of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. Northwest Health - Porter offers a range of services for prevention and treatment of vascular diseases. Vascular specialists provide care for conditions such as:

• Aneurysm
• Atherosclerosis
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Peripheral vascular disease
• Pulmonary embolism
• Varicose veins

Northwest Health - Porter's vascular medicine team provides a range of care, including:

• Diagnostic technology - Heart and vascular specialists utilize imaging technology such as computed tomography angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), or a minimally invasive coronary angiogram, to evaluate and diagnose heart and vascular disease.
• Risk-factor management - Diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and unhealthful habits such as a sedentary lifestyle, smoking and improper diet can contribute to vascular disease. Northwest Health - Porter offers educational and preventive-screening services to help promote healthful practices that contribute to heart and vascular health. A multidisciplinary team can provide a treatment program to manage risk factors to minimize the risk of developing or aggravating vascular disease.
• Surgical interventions - Minimally invasive catheter-assisted techniques such as angioplasty, atherectomy and stent placement can be used to remove plaque and reopen blocked arteries. Vascular specialists use minimally invasive procedures whenever possible. For high risk complex coronary artery disease, Northwest Health - Porter's physicians may perform a high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This is an advanced catheter-based procedure to implant a medical device for temporary ventricular support in patients with advanced coronary artery disease. These patients may be in need of a stent PCI or coronary artery bypass graft surgery, but have been told they are too high-risk for complications that may occur. This procedure may now allow them to safely undergo surgery.