Vascular Surgery

Vascular Surgery at UVM Health

At University of Vermont Health, you receive comprehensive vascular surgery care from a team of skilled specialists. Our team offers a wide range of advanced procedures to treat conditions that affect blood vessels, including minimally invasive options. We schedule imaging on the same day as your physician consultation, so there’s no delay in scheduling surgery.

Our advanced vascular imaging and surgical services are available at clinic locations throughout Vermont and northern New York. Your surgeon works with you throughout your entire care journey, getting to know you to better understand your needs and create a personalized care plan.

Close-up of medical professionals prepping for a surgery,

Why Choose UVM Health?

As one of the leading vascular surgery programs in the region, we offer:

Advanced treatments: Our vascular surgeons offer an array of complex and advanced surgery options and use less invasive endovascular approaches whenever possible to help you recover more quickly.
Specialized care: Our vascular surgeons subspecialize in specific diseases and treatments, such as complex aortic stenting, vein surgery or treatment for thoracic outlet syndrome, ensuring you're treated by a specialist with particular expertise in your diagnosis.
State-of-the-art imaging: The certified vascular technologists in the David Pilcher Noninvasive Vascular Laboratory perform more than 9,000 studies every year with state-of-the-art tools to produce more accurate diagnoses that lead to effective treatment plans.

Conditions We Treat with Vascular Surgery

Our vascular surgeons treat an extensive range of conditions that affect your arteries and veins, including:

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA): A bulge in the portion of the aorta (the body’s largest artery) that runs through the abdomen
Carotid artery disease: A narrowing of the blood vessels that send blood from the heart to the brain, often as a result of buildup of a fatty substance called plaque
Dialysis access: A surgical procedure to establish access for hemodialysis, done in partnership with nephrologists (kidney specialists)
Mesenteric disease: A narrowing of the arteries that carry blood to the intestines, typically caused by plaque buildup
Peripheral aneurysms: A bulge in the wall of one of the arteries in your arm or leg
Peripheral artery disease: A narrowing of the blood vessels that take blood away from the heart, often affecting the legs and feet
Peripheral vascular disease: A blockage, narrowing or spasm in the blood vessels outside of the heart
Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA): A bulge in the portion of the aorta that runs through the chest
Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS): The compression of the nerves or blood vessels in the space between the first rib and collarbone (thoracic outlet)
Vascular trauma: Injuries that cause damage to blood vessels
Vasculitis: Blood vessel inflammation that can lead to blood vessel thickening and restricted blood flow
Vasospastic disorders: Occur when small blood vessels near the surface of the skin spasm, restricting blood flow
Venous insufficiency: Occurs when the leg veins don’t carry blood to the heart as efficiently as they should, sometimes resulting in swollen, enlarged veins (varicose veins)

Types of Vascular Surgeries

Our vascular surgeons offer a range of surgical services across UVM Health and in clinics throughout the region. Our nationally accredited, non-invasive diagnostic laboratory at the UVM Center for Aortic Diseases brings together a multidisciplinary team of vascular and cardiothoracic surgeons to diagnose and treat complex aortic disease.

Types of vascular surgeries we specialize in include:

Aneurysm Repair

We use both open and minimally invasive (endovascular) procedures to treat aortic aneurysms. During endovascular repair, we insert a flexible, hollow tube (catheter) through an artery in the groin and guide it to the aneurysm. Then we place a mesh-like tube called a stent graft in the aorta to reinforce the weakened portion and seal off the aneurysm. Our surgeons use a range of innovative graft options, including complex physician-modified endografts and fenestrated aortic endografts.

Carotid Artery Stenting

Patients with carotid artery disease may need a small metal tube (stent) placed within the artery. This stent helps keep narrowed arteries open.

We offer an advanced procedure called transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR), in which we make a small incision over the carotid artery, then attach the artery to a machine that temporarily reverses blood flow. This reversal allows us to catch and filter out loose plaque fragments, lowering the risk of stroke. The surgeon then places a stent in the artery.

Laser Recanalization

Laser recanalization is a minimally invasive procedure to open blocked blood vessels and restore blood flow. Your surgeon places a catheter into the blocked blood vessel and uses laser energy to remove plaque. After plaque removal, a stent may be used to keep the blood vessel open, reducing the risk of conditions such as peripheral vascular disease.

Limb Preservation

Restricted blood flow, traumatic injuries or extensive infection may increase your risk of losing all or part of your limb (amputation). We offer multiple procedures to improve blood flow and lower your risk of limb loss. When it’s necessary, our vascular surgeons perform amputations that treat the problem while preserving as much of your limb as possible.

Open Surgery

In addition to using minimally invasive and catheter-based techniques, our surgeons also offer open surgeries when appropriate. These procedures may include bypass surgery to redirect blood flow around blocked blood vessels or endarterectomy to remove plaque from arteries.

Peripheral Vascular Interventions

We offer a range of procedures to treat peripheral vascular disease. Our goal is to restore proper blood flow and reduce symptoms like leg pain or numbness. Based on your diagnosis, we may use catheter-based techniques to insert a balloon to open blocked blood vessels. If needed, our surgeons also offer open bypass surgery to redirect blood flow around the blocked vessel.

Spine Exposure

Our vascular surgeons partner with neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons for procedures like artificial disc replacement and spinal fusion. These surgeries reduce back and neck pain, improving your functioning and quality of life. Vascular surgeons make incisions to expose the spine without damaging the complex network of blood vessels in the back. If any bleeding or blood vessel damage occurs during the orthopedic surgery, vascular surgeons can repair the area with grafts or other techniques.

Thoracic Outlet Surgery

Our vascular surgeons specializing in thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) offer decompression surgery to treat severe TOS. This procedure reduces severe symptoms such as neck and shoulder pain or numbness in your hands. We typically remove a portion of the first rib to relieve pressure on the blood vessels and nerves. When needed, we also repair blood vessels in the thoracic outlet, remove blood clots or replace damaged blood vessels with grafts.

Vascular Access

We specialize in procedures for dialysis access. Dialysis is a kidney failure treatment that filters excess fluids, toxins or other waste products from your body. Dialysis access procedures help your blood flow smoothly through the dialysis machine. They may involve connecting an artery and vein (native fistula), placing synthetic material between an artery and vein (graft) or a hybrid approach.

Vein Surgery

Vascular surgeons offer an array of procedures to treat venous insufficiency and varicose veins. We use a range of minimally invasive techniques that use small incisions. You experience less pain and scarring and recover more quickly, returning home the same day.

Awards & Certifications

Vascular Quality Initiative

UVM Health was one of four founding institutions in the Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI), an outcomes database with the Society of Vascular Surgery. Today, the VQI includes more than 900 hospitals across the country and in Canada. We track our results in nationwide databases and continually meet — or even exceed — national benchmarks. Our vascular surgery team has received recognitions from the Vascular Quality Initiative, including:

3-star Participation Awards, the highest achievement available, for multiple years in a row
Awards for outstanding performance in long-term patient follow-up