Let's learn about the new method (Endovascular Surgery) that heals blood vessels without a large incision?

When you hear the word "surgery" or "operation," do you cringe a little? It's normal to think of a big incision, a few days in the hospital, and a long period of pain. But today, medicine has advanced a lot. Instead of making big incisions like in the past, there is now technology that allows us to go inside the body through a small hole and treat serious diseases. That's what we're going to talk about today, an amazing way to treat the blood vessels in our bodies.

What is Endovascular Surgery?

Simply put, endovascular surgery is a procedure that treats the blood vessels in our body from the inside without making large incisions. Imagine a water pipe inside your house that is blocked. Instead of breaking the wall and repairing the pipe, this is like inserting a thin tube with a camera through a small hole and removing the blockage.

In this procedure, doctors use a small needle to make a hole in a blood vessel and insert very thin, flexible tubes called catheters through it. Then, using technologies such as X-rays, these tubes are guided to the exact location of the disease, that is, where the blood vessel is blocked, swollen, or damaged. Then, the necessary equipment is passed through it to cure the disease. This can restore blood flow to the brain, heart, limbs, and lungs.

What is the difference between endovascular and open surgery?

Both of these methods treat the blood vessels. But the way they approach it is completely different. To understand this difference, see the table below.

What conditions are treated with this method?

Endovascular procedures are used to treat a wide range of blood vessel and cardiovascular diseases. Some of the main conditions include:

• Aneurysm: This is when the wall of a blood vessel becomes weak and bulges out like a balloon. This can occur in the abdominal aortic aneurysm or the thoracic aortic aneurysm, as well as other blood vessels in the body. If this ruptures, it can be life-threatening.
• Atherosclerosis: This is when fatty substances, such as cholesterol, found in the food we eat, build up on the walls of blood vessels, gradually narrowing the passage for blood. It's like rust building up inside a water pipe. This hinders blood flow.
• Carotid artery disease: The carotid arteries are the two main blood vessels in our neck that carry blood to the brain. When they become blocked by fatty deposits, the risk of stroke increases significantly.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): This is when a blood clot forms in the veins deep inside the body. The most dangerous thing is if this blood clot breaks off and travels through the bloodstream and gets stuck in the lungs (Pulmonary Embolism), it can be fatal.
• Peripheral artery disease (PAD): This is a condition in which the arteries that supply blood to the arms and especially the legs become blocked. This can cause problems such as pain in the legs when walking and problems with wounds that do not heal.

What happens before the surgery?

Before you undergo this type of surgery, your doctor will talk to you carefully about your medical history and current health. He or she will then perform a physical examination and, if necessary, order the following tests:

• Ultrasound scan: Uses sound waves to look at the flow of blood inside the blood vessels and to see if there are any blockages.
• Angiography: A special dye is injected into the blood vessels and X-ray images are taken. This can clearly show how narrowed the blood vessels are and where they are.
• CT scan and MRI scan: These can produce very detailed three-dimensional images of blood vessels and surrounding tissue.
• ECG and Echocardiogram: These are used to check the function of the heart.
• Ankle-brachial index (ABI): A simple test that measures and compares blood pressure in the legs and arms to determine if there is reduced blood flow to the legs.

What types of endovascular surgery are there?

Depending on your condition, your doctor may use different types of endovascular treatments. Let's take a look at a few of them.

What are the advantages and risks of this method?

Like any medical treatment, this one has both benefits and risks.

Advantages

The biggest advantage of the endovascular method is the quick recovery . Since there is no large incision, there is less damage to the body. So you have to stay in the hospital for less time, less pain, and you can get back to normal life faster.

Risks/Complications

Although this surgery is generally very safe, minor risks can occur.

• Bleeding from the catheter insertion site.
• Damage to blood vessels during treatment.
• Dissection of the blood vessel wall.
• Formation of a new blood clot (Thrombosis) at the treated site.
• Rarely, kidney effects may occur (due to the type of dye used).

The risk of such things happening is very low, and an experienced medical team is always ready to manage such a situation if it arises.

When should I see a doctor immediately after surgery?

When you go home after surgery, you need to take great care of your body. Usually, you can return to your daily activities after about a month. However, it is essential to talk to your doctor about this and get advice. Also, you should definitely go for follow-up tests on the scheduled date.

If you experience any of the following symptoms, do not delay and immediately inform your doctor or go to the Emergency Department (ETU) of the nearest hospital.

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