At the University of Michigan, our Advanced Interventional Cardiology Program offers comprehensive and individualized care, utilizing the latest technologies currently available for angioplasty and stenting, performed by our skilled team of interventional cardiologists.
An aneurysm is a bulge that occurs in a blood vessel. If that bulge occurs in the aorta, the largest blood vessel in your body, it is called an aortic aneurysm. Aneurysms can be life-threatening if they rupture and bleed inside the body. At the Frankel Cardiovascular Center, our skilled cardiologists, surgeons and other specialists offer treatment options for all types of aortic aneurysms. Our team-based approach focuses on making sure you and your family understand your options. We work with you to decide which treatment is best for you.
As the go-to program in the state for complex aortic disease, we have unmatched expertise in all types of aortic conditions. These include aortic aneurysm, aortic dissection and aortic valve disease and aortic conditions caused by genetic changes.
Our Comprehensive Aortic Program at the Frankel Cardiovascular Center offers a wide range of treatment options for aortic disease. Many patients come to us for procedures that are not available elsewhere. Others choose us because they want to receive care at one of the top institutions in the country. We offer replacement or repair of the aortic valve, as well as minimally invasive and open surgery for aortic aneurysm an daortic dissection.
An aortic dissection occurs when the inner layer of the aortic wall tears. The inner and middle layers of the aorta separate and fill with blood, weakening the wall of the aorta. If pressure builds up, it can lead to a dangerous rupture where blood spills inside the body. When you come to the University of Michigan Health Frankel Cardiovascular Center, you’ll find experts with decades of experience diagnosing and treating aortic dissections.
Aortic valve diseases can threaten your health and impact your quality of life. Our heart and vascular specialists at the University of Michigan Health Frankel Cardiovascular Center are skilled in diagnosing and treating diseases of the aortic valve.
We treat connective tissue disorders including Marfan's syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and Loeys-Dietz syndrome, which can affect the aorta.
Aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD) is common in patients with PAD. AIOD is the blockage of the aorta, the main blood vessel in your body, or the iliac arteries. The aorta divides into the iliac arteries, which provide blood to the legs and organs in your pelvis. This blockage is typically caused by a buildup of plaque within the walls of the blood vessels.
Arterial disease, sometimes called artery disease, is a vascular disease that affects the arteries of your body, which are the vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood away from your heart to the tissues of the body. The largest artery in your body is the aorta, which stems from the heart’s left ventricle and branches out into smaller arteries throughout the body. Arterial diseases include: aortic aneurysms, peripheral arterial disease (PAD), and thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS).
University of Michigan Aortic Disease Program treats all kinds of arterial disease, including arteriosclerotic aortic disease (hardening of the arteries).
Cerebrovascular disease refers to a group of conditions that affect blood flow and the blood vessels in the brain. Problems with blood flow may occur from blood vessels narrowing (stenosis), clot formation (thrombosis), artery blockage (embolism) or blood vessel rupture (hemorrhage). Lack of sufficient blood flow (also referred to as ischemia) affects brain tissue and may cause a stroke.
Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is a disease that occurs when superficial or deep veins or not working properly. Patients with CVI often have painful or swollen legs and may develop darkened skin, sores (ulcer) and varicose veins. CVI affects women more than men and is increasingly common over age 50.
When you choose the Comprehensive Aortic Program at the University of Michigan Health Frankel Cardiovascular Center, you’ll find a world-class level of experience and expertise. As leaders in the field of aortic disease, our surgeons are at the forefront of developing new surgical techniques. The Comprehensive Aortic Program is the busiest in the state and among the largest in the U.S. We are a premier center for the care of patients with complex aortic diseases.
Deep vein thrombosis, commonly referred to as DVT, is a condition that results from the formation of a thrombus, or blood clot, in a vein deep within the body. In addition to causing leg pain and swelling, the condition also can be complicated by pulmonary embolus (PE) should a piece of clot break loose and travel into the pulmonary (lung) circulation. A PE can seriously impair breathing (oxygenation), stress the heart, and can result in death.
Patients diagnosed with an enlarged aorta will likely have many questions about the condition: How big is too big? When should I be worried? What does “watchful waiting” mean? Are there any early warning signs before it bursts? Most of the answers to these questions depend on a variety of factors, including age and body size, medical history, and the position and size of the aorta, among others.
Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is a preferred treatment for many abdominal aortic aneurysm patients and an alternative for some who do not qualify for open surgery. Compared with open AAA repair, minimally invasive EVAR is associated with a significant reduction in mortality, primarily because EVAR does not require exposure of the aorta. EVAR also results in a shorter hospital stay and faster recovery time.
Hemodialysis is a treatment that purifies the blood of a person whose kidneys have failed. This treatment involves a machine used to route a patient’s blood through a filter, called a dialyzer, outside the body. The two types of vascular access for patients on long-term hemodialysis include arteriovenous (AV) fistula and arteriovenous (AV) graft.
Mesenteric vascular disease is a condition that develops when the arteries in the abdomen that supply the intestines with blood become narrowed due to the build-up of plaque (a process called atherosclerosis). The result is a lack of blood supply to the intestines. The disease can come on suddenly with severe abdominal pain or may develop over time. Treatment can include lifestyle changes, minimally invasive endovascular options, and surgery.
The difference between peripheral artery disease or PAD (sometimes called peripheral vascular disease) and heart disease is that the blockages are outside your heart, usually in the legs. The University of Michigan’s Peripheral Arterial Disease Program brings together a multidisciplinary team of physicians to create a treatment plan tailored to your needs.
Sclerotherapy is a safe, effective treatment used for spider, reticular or varicose veins. It involves a series of injections of a special chemical (sclerosant) that causes the lining in the blood vessel to become scar tissue that is reabsorbed by the body. Sclerotherapy is an office-based procedure that can eliminate the pain and discomfort often caused by varicose veins. The outpatient procedure, which doesn’t require anesthesia, is also used as a cosmetic treatment for spider veins, retitcular veins or any unattractive veins, resulting in an improved appearance.
Spider veins, also known as superficial leg veins, are small veins that appear just below the skin’s surface. They are typically red, blue or purple in color and commonly occur on the thighs, calves and ankles. Spider veins can be genetic or related to pregnancy, the use of birth control pills or weight gain.
Superficial thrombophlebitis is a form of venous disease (disease of the veins) that occurs when a blood clot forms that partially or totally blocks blood flow in a vein in the superficial venous system. When this occurs in the deep venous system, it is called deep vein thrombosis or DVT, which is more serious because of the risk of a piece of clot breaking loose and traveling to the lungs (called pulmonary embolus, or PE). This can impair breathing and can even cause death.
Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) describes a group of disorders due to compression of the nerves (brachial plexus) or blood vessels (subclavian vein/artery) as they pass through the thoracic outlet.
Varicose veins, a form of venous disease, are large, "rope-like" veins, often one-quarter inch or larger in diameter. While any vein can become varicose, those most likely affected are on the legs and feet. Varicose veins affect about half of all people age 50 and older, and 15 to 20 percent of all adults.
All the blood vessels that run through your body make up your vascular system, which includes your arteries and veins. The Vascular Medicine Program, part of the Cardiovascular Center at the University of Michigan, offers a multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis, treatment, follow-up and management of patients with all forms of vascular disease.
The vascular surgeons at the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center work together every day to provide our patients with the most exceptional care and treatment possible for diseases of the circulatory system.
