We will be closed on Monday, February 19th for Presidents Day.

Vascular Services

The Vascular Services team at Mountain Medical specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and abnormalities of the blood vessels (arteries and veins). We have expertise in the treatment of aneurysms, management of plaque build-up that can block or narrow arteries (leading to stroke or possibly limb loss), dialysis access, popliteal entrapment syndromes and thoracic outlet problems, venous thrombosis and varicose vein therapies. Although surgery may be needed, frequently, major operations can be avoided. Our vascular team has years of experience with both open surgery and minimally invasive techniques. We are dedicated to help guide you through the treatment process and get you back to your normal activities as soon as possible.

Patients along the Wasatch Front, including Logan, Ogden, Layton, Bountiful, Salt Lake City, Murray, Park City, Tooele, Sandy, Draper and Provo choose Mountain Medical for these vascular services. Find an office near you.

Listed below are some of the vascular services we specialize in.

Angioplasty, Atherectomy and Stent Placement

Angioplasty, atherectomy and vascular stenting are minimally invasive techniques performed to improve blood flow in the body’s arteries and veins that have become narrowed or blocked. These techniques utilize X-ray imaging to guide a catheter into the affected blood vessel. Through these catheters, small instruments can dilate the narrowed blood vessel
(angioplasty) or remove plaque (atherectomy). If needed, a small expandable metal tube (stent), may be placed in the blood vessel to help reinforce it. These are frequently outpatient procedures, requiring no overnight hospital stay.

Bypass Surgery

Our vascular surgeons perform a bypass surgery on patients with peripheral vascular disease (also known as PAD), caused by blocked arteries. During a bypass operation, a blood vessel or graft is used to redirect blood flow around the blockage to improve blood flow to the affected area. This surgery is performed in areas of the neck, chest, abdomen and extremities.

Dialysis Access

We offer dialysis access for patients with kidney failure. Performing dialysis requires the creation of a high flow circuit that allows access to the bloodstream. The access is usually located completely beneath your skin, usually in the arm, but may be placed in the leg. During dialysis, a portion of blood is removed through the access and circulated through the dialysis machine so it can remove impurities and regulate fluid and chemical balances. The purified blood is then returned to you, again through the dialysis access.

Endarterectomy

Endarterectomy is a procedure that removes plaque from a narrowed or blocked artery. This procedure restores blood flow through the affected area and in certain cases, is more effective and safer than other treatment options. The most common use of endarterectomy is treating blockages in the carotid arteries in the neck to prevent stroke. This procedure can also be used to treat peripheral arterial disease in the extremities, the kidney, the aorta and its branch vessels including the iliac arteries and the blood vessels to the spleen, intestines, and liver.

Aneurysm Repair

An aneurysm is a focal area of a blood vessel wall that is weakened and dilates. As the weakened area becomes larger, the wall becomes weaker and is at risk of breaking, which can be a life- threatening problem. It is important to identify and treat aneurysms early before they break. Repair of aneurysms requires different techniques depending on the specific clinical needs of each patient. Open Surgical Repair of aneurysms has been the standard of care for years and our vascular surgeons have used this technique to treat many patients with aneurysms. Technological advances now allow these aneurysms to be repaired with Endovascular Stent Grafts, a much less invasive technique. An endovascular stent is a tube made up of fabric supported by a metal framework that can be used to repair the weakened area of the blood vessel through very small incisions. This frequently allows patients to leave the hospital the next day, resulting in a faster recovery more rapid return to normal activities. Endovascular stent grafts can be used to treat aneurysms located in many different areas of the body including the chest, abdomen and legs.

Thrombolysis

Many people in the country are affected each year by blood clots, involving both arteries and veins. Thrombolysis (dissolving the clot), is a minimally invasive procedure that utilizes X-
ray guidance for placement of small catheters and tools into the blocked blood vessel to dissolve or remove the blood clot. Most often this procedure is used to treat blood clots in the arteries of the arms or legs due to hardening of the arteries, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), clotted dialysis grafts and pulmonary embolism (PE). When thrombolysis cannot be performed, our vascular surgeons can use other surgical techniques to remove the clot.

Varicose Vein Treatment

Varicose veins occur when the vein valves become distressed or damaged leading to high pressure in the veins of the legs. This leads to dilation of the veins and causes symptoms of pain and aching in the legs. We offer state-of-the-art therapy including laser and radiofrequency technologies to treat varicose veins. A thin fiber is inserted into the abnormal vein, delivering the heat energy to the lining of the vein, causing it to shrink and collapse. The body then reroutes the blood through other healthy veins. This minimally invasive procedure takes less than one hour and patients resume their usual activities rapidly. Learn more about varicose vein treatment.

Spider Vein Treatment

“Spider veins” are small, blue green veins also known as telangiectasias that are unsightly and frequently cause discomfort. Treatment for these veins includes both injection and laser light therapies that are minimally invasive, can be accomplished with essentially no down time after the procedure and could even be performed on your lunch hour. Learn more about spider vein treatment.