Center for Vascular Disease

Overview

The vascular system is comprised of arteries, veins, lymphatic channels and capillaries. Common conditions caused by vascular disease include: stroke (the third leading cause of death in the United States), peripheral arterial disease ranging from difficulty walking to gangrene, aortic aneurysms and venous problems, including blood clots, varicose veins, swollen legs and leg ulcers. Vascular disease may affect one or all portions of the circulatory system.

Because these diseases are so variable and complex, the Northwestern Memorial Hospital's Center for Vascular Disease at the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute provides a unique multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis, treatment and screening of patients with vascular disease. William H. Pearce, MD and Neil J. Stone, MD, internationally recognized experts in their fields, are leading an outstanding multidisciplinary team of specialists who will participate in the care of these patients. In addition, the team includes skillful nurses and nurse practitioners who play an active role in providing optimal patient care that is comprehensive, efficient and accessible to patients.

The clinics in the Center for Vascular Disease include:

Vascular Surgery Clinic
Thoracic Aortic Surgery Clinic
Lipid Disorder/Metabolic Syndrome Clinic
Limb Preservation Clinic
Vein Center

These multidisciplinary clinics are staffed by physicians from different specialties rendering expert opinions that benefit patients.

Early detection and diagnosis is important to reduce stroke, death, limb loss and disability from vascular disease. Vascular disease can be easily diagnosed through non-invasive testing. The Northwestern Memorial Hospital's Vascular Laboratory provides state-of-the-art, non-invasive diagnostic services. Over 15,000 tests per year are performed in the Vascular Laboratory; the staff includes board-certified vascular surgeons and highly trained registered vascular technologists.

With early detection, vascular disease can be treated effectively. Treatment ranges from lifestyle intervention and exercise programs to the latest in balloon angioplasty and endovascular and open surgical techniques.

Once vascular disease is identified, the need to modify risk factors is even greater. A strong emphasis on smoking cessation, effective lipid lowering therapy and careful diabetes management is crucial. When done effectively, risk factor modification holds the promise of preventing the progression of vascular disease and its complications as well as preventing the development of atherosclerosis in other arteries.

Several new areas of research are being investigated to improve patient care. They include: minimally invasive endovascular treatments for vascular disease; genetic basis of atherosclerosis, aortic aneurysms and aortic dissection; neurocerebral monitoring and protection during aortic surgery; methods to improve walking distance and other disabilities associated with circulation problems; use of stem cells to replace damaged arteries; minimally invasive treatments of varicose veins; new methods to treat and prevent stroke; and new and innovative treatments of blood clots.

The Center for Vascular Disease strives to provide quality patient care, improve clinical outcomes, decrease complications and re-admission rates, and enhance community-based care through communication with primary care physicians and visiting nurses.