Northwestern Memorial Hospital - Exceptional Care in the Heart of Chicago

Vascular Disease Focus Areas

• Stroke Prevention / Carotid Artery Disease
• Thoracic Aortic Surgery
• Abdominal Aortic Surgery
• Peripheral Arterial Disease
• Vascular Medicine
• Blood Clots, Varicose Veins, Swollen Legs, Ulcers
• Lipid Disorders/Metabolic Syndrome

Vascular Disease Resources

• Basics
  • About the Arteries
  • About the Heart
  • About the Veins
  • Stroke Prevention
  
  
• Diseases/Conditions
  • Amaurosis Fugax
  • Aneurysm, Abdominal Aortic
  • Aneurysm, Thoracic Aortic
  • Aortic Dissection
  • Arterial Disease
  • Arterial Embolism
  • Arteriosclerosis of the Extremities
  • Atherosclerosis
  • Blockage of Leg Arteries
  • Carotid Artery Disease
  • Compartment Syndrome
  • Deep Vein Thrombosis
  • Gangrene
  • High Blood Cholesterol/ Triglycerides
  • Hypercoagulable States
  • Hypertension
  • Lymphatic Obstruction
  • Mesenteric Artery Ischemia
  • Metabolic Syndrome
    
  • Peripheral Arterial Disease
  • Pulmonary Embolus
  • Raynaud's Phenomenon
  • Renal Artery Stenosis
  • Renovascular Hypertension
  • Stroke Secondary to Carotid Stenosis
  • Takayasu Arteritis
  • Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
  • Thrombophlebitis(Inflammation of the Vein)
  • Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
  • Varicose Veins
  • Venous Ulcers / Chronic Venous Insufficiency
  • Vertebrobasilar Circulatory Disorders
  
  
• Tests
  • Angiogram/Arteriogram
  • Arterial Exam
  • Carotid & Vertebral Duplex Scan
  • Cavernosal Duplex Scan
  • Cholesterol Test
  • 64 Slice CTA
  • Duplex Scan- Abdominal, Iliac, Mesenteric, Renal
  • Echocardiogram
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG)
  • Holter Monitor
  • Lower Extremity Venography
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
  • Screening: Quick Scan
  • Transcranial Doppler (TCD)
  • Transesophageal Echocardiology (TEE)
  • Venous Duplex Scan
    
  
  
• Treatments
  • Aortic Aneurysm Endovascular Stent Graft
  • Arterial Bypass Surgery
  • Carotid Artery Angioplasty/ Stenting
  • Carotid Endarterectomy
  • Foot Care for Diabetics
  • Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty/Stenting (PTLA)
  • Surgery of the Aorta
  • Varicose Vein Treatments
  • Venous Ulcer Treatments
  • Warfarin (Coumadin)
  
  
• Research Centers
  
  • Clinical Trials Unit
  • NUgene Project
  • Regenerative Medicine
  • Women's Health Registry
    
    
• Patient Stories
  • See All Heart & Vascular Patient Stories
    
  
  
• Risk Reduction
  • Cardiac Rehabilitation
  • Depression
  • Exercise & Your Heart
  • Heart Healthy Nutrition
  • Risk Calculation
  • Risk Reduction
  • Smoking Cessation
  • Stress Reduction
  
  
• Drug Information
  • Prescription/Over-the-counter
  
  
• Trusted Web Sites
  • American Heart Association
  • American Stroke Association
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Lipid Association
  • National Lymphedema Network
  • Vascular Disease Foundation
  • VascularWeb
  • American Venous Forum

Stroke remains a leading cause of preventable death. One of the major risk factors is plaque build-up and narrowing of the four main blood vessels found in the neck, the two carotid and two vertebral arteries. The carotid arteries provide the most important blood flow to the brain. Blockages in these arteries can result in visual impairment, arm or leg weakness or paralysis, and/or speech difficulties, all signs of a stroke or mini-stroke (also known as a transient ischemic attack). Screening for carotid artery disease may reduce complications associated with stroke. Disease in the vertebral arteries can lead to even more devastating strokes.

Treatment options have included medications or, in severe cases, surgical reconstruction of these arteries. The vascular surgeons in the Center for Vascular Disease have been actively involved in extracranial cerebrovascular reconstruction including carotid endarterectomy, the surgical removal of the plaque, for many years.

More recently, a minimally invasive approach, carotid artery stenting, has been shown to be beneficial in some patients with carotid artery disease. Carotid artery stenting is performed without general anesthesia and only requires an overnight stay in the hospital. The absence of a neck incision allows for quicker recovery and less pain.

The vascular surgeons in the Center for Vascular Disease have performed over 300 cases of carotid artery stenting, which has been approved by the FDA. Mark Eskandari, MD currently serves as the site principal investigator for the only NIH-sponsored carotid stenting trial (CREST) as well as three other carotid stenting clinical trials. The Center for Vascular Disease is also one of only a few regional centers designed to train physicians in this technology.

Dr. Eskandari is the Director of Carotid and Peripheral Artery Interventions. Jon Matsumura, MD, Mark Morasch, MD and Melina Kibbe, MD have also been instrumental in developing a solid and reputable carotid stenting program at Northwestern Memorial.

Dr. Mark Alberts, Director of the Stroke Program at Northwestern Memorial, is leading the efforts to understand the best treatment for acute stroke.

Contact
For more information regarding stroke prevention or to obtain a consultation through the Center for Vascular Disease call the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at (866) 662-8467, or request an appointment online.