Endovascular Treatments: Advanced, Minimally Invasive Vascular Care

Endovascular treatments are minimally invasive procedures performed inside the blood vessels using catheters, guidewires, balloons, and stents. Instead of open surgery, these techniques use small punctures in the skin to reach blocked or weakened arteries and veins. Endovascular procedures are commonly used to treat conditions such as peripheral arterial disease (PAD), aortic aneurysms, carotid artery disease, deep vein thrombosis, and other complex vascular problems, allowing faster recovery and reduced hospital stay.

Conditions Commonly Treated with Endovascular Procedures

Endovascular techniques can be used in a wide range of arterial and venous diseases, including:

• Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) of the legs.
• Aortic aneurysms (abdominal or thoracic).
• Carotid artery narrowing causing stroke risk.
• Renal and mesenteric artery stenosis.
• Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and complex venous blockages.

Types of Endovascular Treatments

• Angioplasty: A small balloon is inflated inside the narrowed artery to widen it and restore blood flow.
• Stent Placement: A metal mesh tube (stent) is placed to keep the artery open after angioplasty.
• Thrombolysis / Thrombectomy: Dissolving or removing blood clots from arteries or veins.
• Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR/TEVAR): Placing a stent graft inside an aneurysm to prevent rupture.
• Embolisation: Blocking abnormal or bleeding vessels using coils or particles.

How Are Endovascular Procedures Performed?

These procedures are typically performed in a specialised catheterisation lab or hybrid operating theatre:

• A small puncture is made in the groin, wrist, or arm to access an artery or vein.
• Thin catheters and guidewires are gently navigated under X-ray guidance to the diseased area.
• Angiograms (dye-based imaging) are used to visualise blockages or aneurysms.
• Angioplasty, stenting, clot removal, or stent graft placement is then performed as required.

Benefits of Endovascular Treatments

• Smaller incisions and less pain compared to open surgery.
• Shorter hospital stay and faster recovery.
• Lower risk of wound complications and infections.
• Suitable for high-risk patients unfit for major surgery.
• Precise treatment guided by real-time imaging.

Recovery and Follow-Up

Most patients can start walking within hours to a day after the procedure, depending on the complexity of treatment. You may be advised to limit strenuous activity briefly, take blood-thinning medications, and manage risk factors such as diabetes, cholesterol, and blood pressure. Regular follow-up with vascular imaging ensures that stents and treated vessels remain open and functioning well.

Endovascular treatments have transformed the way many vascular diseases are managed, offering safer and less invasive options with excellent outcomes. If you have been diagnosed with a vascular condition or are experiencing symptoms such as leg pain, non-healing ulcers, or aneurysm-related discomfort, our vascular team can assess your suitability for endovascular therapy and design a personalised treatment plan.