Endovascular Surgery at the University of Massachusetts

The opportunity to provide less invasive care has led, the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery to shift from conventional open operations to catheter-based surgical interventions. Endovascular procedures provide a minimally invasive means of treating vascular problems using percutaneous techniques rather than traditional invasive operative procedures. UMass is fortunate to have five specially trained and certified endovascular surgeons who perform these procedures. Over 1000 endovascular procedures are performed annually at UMass in a specially designed catherization laboratory.

Endovascular techniques such as angiography provide information about the location and appearance of aneurysms or areas of stenosis, which may restrict the volume of blood that can be delivered to an organ or extremity. Depending upon the details of the narrowing identified, a stenosis may be amenable to an endovascular treatment such as balloon angioplasty, which is sometimes followed by placement of a metallic stent. These procedures can almost always be performed using local anesthesia and gentle sedation.

Vascular Surgeons who perform endovascular procedures have undergone additional training beyond the usual requirements for vascular surgery to become skilled and qualified to provide this type of care. The recognition of these special skills has led to the formation of a Section within the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery devoted to the performance of endovascular procedures.

Endovascular procedures performed include:

• endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR)
• endovascular thoracic aortic aneurysm repair (TEVAR)
• carotid artery angioplasty and stenting (CAS)
• angioplasty and stenting of stenoses in the vessels supplying the legs, arms, kidneys, and abdominal organs.
• Venous angioplasty and stenting
• Inferior Vena Cava filter placement and removal