Endovascular surgery may be an option for some procedures

Hospital tile / photo courtesy of Getty Images
Hospital tile / photo courtesy of Getty Images

Q: What is the difference between vascular and endovascular surgery?

A: Both procedures are used to treat diseases affecting the blood vessels. The traditional method is vascular surgery, an open surgical treatment of diseases of the carotid, aortic, mesenteric, renal or peripheral arteries. These techniques require open surgery, often under general anesthesia, to correct the problems.

The new trend in care is endovascular surgery, which presents an alternative to the traditional open approach. It is innovative, less invasive and has advantages such as minimal incisions (sometimes no incisions), shorter hospital stays, less pain and a quicker return to normal activities. Endovascular surgery is not always an option for every patient, so be sure to discuss this with your physician.

Dr. Chris Lesar is a vascular surgeon at Vascular Institute of Chattanooga and a member of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society.

photo Contributed Photo / Dr. Chris Lesar

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