Vascular

Advanced Vascular Services in Northern Michigan

Your good health depends on having a healthy system of veins and arteries to circulate blood to every area of your body. Vascular disease includes any condition that affects your circulatory system and can lead to conditions such as leg pain, poor kidney function, and stroke.

Early diagnosis and treatment of vascular conditions is extremely effective. Munson Healthcare has a team of highly-skilled vascular specialists based in Traverse City who provide preventive, interventional, surgical, and ongoing comprehensive care for patients with vascular conditions. 

A Team Approach

Our fellowship-trained and board-certified vascular surgeons, interventional radiologists, and interventional cardiologists work together to take a multidisciplinary, collaborative approach to the care and treatment of vascular disease. Patients benefit from their combined knowledge and expertise.

Using the most advanced techniques and technology, Munson Healthcare vascular specialists can enhance the quality of your life by providing an early diagnosis, minimally-invasive treatments, and faster recovery times.

From aneurysm repair to dialysis port placement, our vascular team devises a personalized treatment plan and expertly addresses your questions and concerns each step of the way.

Committed to Excellence

Munson Healthcare is committed to excellence in everything we do, including constant review and continual improvement. We participate in registries, such as Blue Cross CQI registry, which monitors all peripheral and open procedures to ensure patients receive the best, safest care.

Common Types of Vascular Disease

The most common types of vascular disease include:

  • Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) occurs when the wall of the aorta, the largest blood vessel in the body, weakens and develops a balloon-like bulge. Aneurysms can form in the chest or abdomen. Early diagnosis is key because survival rates are very high for patients who undergo surgical repair of intact abdominal aortic aneurysms A ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm is the 13th leading cause of death in the country, and the 10th leading cause of death in men older than 55. 
  • Carotid Artery Disease is a buildup of plaque in the carotid artery, the main blood vessel to your brain. Severe buildup of plaque may cause a stroke – damage to the brain from lack of blood flow. Treatment ranges from lifestyle changes and medication therapy to surgical removal of the blockage (endarterectomy) and stenting. 
  • Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) happens when narrowed blood vessels outside of your heart reduce blood flow to your limbs. Peripheral artery disease, also known as peripheral vascular disease, is caused by plaque buildup in the arteries (arteriosclerosis), most commonly in the arteries of the legs. Peripheral artery disease may lead to difficulty walking, painful foot ulcers, infections, and even gangrene, which could require amputation. Treatment ranges from lifestyle changes and medication therapy to angioplasty and surgery. 
  • Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) occurs when blood in the large veins of the leg thickens to form a clot. If the clot breaks apart, it could travel to your lungs and make breathing difficult, or even cause death. Treatment includes taking blood thinners, thrombolytics (clot busting drugs), or wearing compression stockings. 
  • Varicose Veins are enlarged, twisted veins that can happen anywhere in the body, but are most common in the legs. Varicose veins are not considered a serious medical condition. However, they can be uncomfortable and lead to more serious problems. Treatments range from elevating your legs and wearing compression stockings, to sclerotherapy and other nonsurgical procedures. Varicose veins that develop during pregnancy typically improve without medical treatment in three to 12 months after delivery. 
  • Venous Insufficiency affects the valves in your veins, usually in the leg or arm, causing blood to pool, putting increased pressure on your veins and potentially leading to venous ulcers. An estimated 40 percent of people in the United States have chronic venous insufficiency. It is most treatable in its earliest stages by avoiding long periods of standing or sitting, losing weight, regular exercise, and wearing compression stockings. Medications and nonsurgical procedures (sclerotherapy and endovenous thermal ablation) may be recommended. Surgical treatment options including vein ligation and stripping, phlebectomy, or bypass surgery may be required in less than 10 percent of patients. 

A Wide Range of Expert Vascular Services

Munson Healthcare vascular specialists are experts at these tests and procedures:

  • Aneurysm repair 
  • Angiography - arterial and venous non-cardiac
  • Ankle brachial index test
  • Carotid endarterectomy and stenting
  • Carotid ultrasound
  • Catheter embolization
  • CT angiography
  • Dialysis access
  • Embolectomy, thrombectomy or vessel exploration 
  • Endovascular surgery
  • Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) filter placement and removal
  • Monitoring of stents
  • Peripheral artery bypass surgery 
  • Renal (kidney) vascular procedures 
  • Sclerotherapy 
  • Thrombolysis 
  • Vascular access port placement 

Support and Resources

The following are links to helpful information from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) and the Society for Vascular Surgery: