Company description
Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are vitally important for patients with vascular disease. Center for Vascular Medicine has six locations throughout Maryland equipped with advanced diagnostic and interventional medical technology.
Many vascular procedures are minimally invasive and can be performed in our out-patient centers. Our vascular specialists work closely with surgeons hospital emergency departments for patients needing surgery or who are suffering from strokes, blood clots and acute vascular trauma.
Venous Consults & Diagnostic Testing
Center for Vascular Medicine is equipped with the most advanced medical technology. Our vascular specialists are able to diagnose vascular disease earlier than ever before – in some cases before any the patient experiences any symptoms.
Arterial & Deep Venous Consults
Our vascular consults are comprehensive. We take a multi-disciplinary approach to fully diagnose your condition. We offer non-invasive and minimally invasive diagnostic procedures that detect abnormal blood flow in any part of the body.
Vascular Ultrasound
Ultrasound is safe and painless diagnostic tool for detecting vascular disease. High-frequency sound waves are transmitted through the skin to create an image of the vascular system.
Doppler Ultrasound
Doppler ultrasound is a special vascular ultrasound technique that produces an image of blood flow in a vessel.
Ankle Brachial Index (ABI)
The ABI is a non-invasive diagnostic test performed using blood pressure cuffs on the arms and legs. In this test, the doctor is comparing blood pressure in the arms to blood pressure in the legs to identify problems in the peripheral arteries.
Pulse Volume Recording (PVR)
PVR is very similar to ABI and measures blood flow within the arteries of the lower limbs. PVR can help identify the location of a narrowing or obstruction in the vessel.
Angiography
An angiogram is an outpatient procedure performed under light anesthesia to capture an image of the blood vessels. Because arteries are not normally visible by x-ray, a special dye and camera are used to highlight the vessels. The physician will insert a catheter in the upper thigh and guide it through the vessel all the way to the heart. Once in position, a special dye is injected. As the dye passes through the artery, an x-ray is taken to mark the flow of blood.
Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS)
Using the intravascular ultrasound, our doctors can map the inside of your arteries. A small ultrasound device is attached to a catheter and guided through the femoral artery (in the groin area) to the area(s) of concern.
CO2 Angiography
The CO2 angiogram is a useful diagnostic tool, especially for patients who have poor kidney function or sensitivity to the dye used in a traditional angiogram. In this technique, carbon dioxide is injected into the vessel instead of a dye.
Vascular Procedures & Treatments
Stents
A stent is used to open a vessel and improve blood flow. Often combined with both atherectomy and angioplasty, the vascular specialist will insert a cylindrical metal wire mesh tube into the artery in order to keep the blood flow channel open.
Angioplasty
Angioplasty refers to a technique used to open blocked arteries by inflation of a balloon catheter. This technique is also utilized in the angiography suite frequently in conjunction with both atherectomy and stenting.
Laser Atherectomy
An atherectomy is a minimally invasive procedure used to reduce plaque build up in the blood vessels. The doctor will insert a catheter into the artery. The catheter has a special tip with a blade-like device to remove plaque from the vessel wall and a suction device to collect resulting debris. Atherectomy can be performed as a stand alone procedure, but is often a complement to angioplasty and stenting.
Thrombectomy
A thrombectomy is a surgical procedure to remove an acute clot in a vein or artery of the leg. A special catheter is guided to the blockage and used to break up the blood clot and evacuate it from the body.
By-pass Surgery
When you say by-pass surgery, most people think of the heart, however, vascular surgeons also bypasses to treat other types of vascular disease such as peripheral arterial disease (PAD), upper extremity artery disease and blockages in other veins and arteries. During a bypass procedure, the surgeon grafts a new pathway for blood flow. This can be done using a portion of your own vein or a tube-like device made of synthetic materials. The surgery will reroute the flow of blood around the blockage to restore proper function.
Genetic Medication Therapy
The next leap in medical science will be personalized medicine. The Center for Vascular Medicine is leading the charge in this field, promoting the full integration of the pharmocogenomic process for improved patient outcomes. If you are a candidate and elect for this therapy, your genetic material is collected from a simple swab inside the cheek and sent to a laboratory for analysis. Based on the results, specific drug therapies and clinical treatments will be recommended. The intent of genetic medication therapy is to provide insight into the best pharmacological treatments and other therapies that will generate the optimal response based on your DNA.
Dialysis Access Monitoring & Procedures
Center for Vascular Medicine is pleased to announce it will provide the following Dialysis Access Outpatient Services:
Vein Mapping
Placement of A-V Grafts and Fistulas
Assessment of Malfunctioning Access Site
Temporary Dialysis Catheter Placement
Declotting of Occluded Access Site
Fistula Maturation
Percutaneous Endovascular Revisions
Routine Monitoring at the discretion of the referring physician
