Vascular Services

When you come to Roper St. Francis Healthcare for vascular treatment, you can expect:

• A focus on minimally invasive procedures. When it’s safe and appropriate to do so, we will use a minimally invasive (catheter-based) approach for treatment. These treatments reduce your hospital stay and improve recovery times, so you can get back to doing what you love safely and quickly.
• A whole-person approach to your treatment. Our surgeons understand that a vascular condition affects more than just one part of the body. We’ll work with you to create a treatment plan that focuses on all aspects of your health.
• All testing and treatment options available under one roof. You won’t have to worry about driving to multiple locations for your appointments.

We have experience treating all types of vascular conditions, including:

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)
• Chronic venous insufficiency
• Claudication
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• Peripheral arterial disease (PAD)
• Pulmonary embolism (PE)
• Raynaud’s phenomenon
• Renal vascular disease
• Varicose veins

Treatments for vascular conditions can include surgery, medication, lifestyle changes or a combination of treatments. Our team will create a plan tailored to your individual health needs.

We provide treatment for vascular conditions at Roper Hospital in downtown Charleston. Some treatments we offer include:

• Aneurysm repair, including branched stent grafts for aortic aneurysms
• Carotid endarterectomy
• Chronic wound care and limb preservation
• Vascular medicine, which may include medication and lifestyle changes

Vascular testing

Most patients will undergo testing in our vascular lab before starting treatment. We use these tests to develop a treatment plan that fits your needs and diagnosis.

Vascular tests often include ultrasounds, which check how blood flows through your body and detect narrowing of the arteries or veins (stenosis). Ultrasounds can also help us find and measure aneurysms.

We may also use arterial testing to check how blood is flowing through your arteries. During this test, we’ll place blood pressure cuffs on your arms and legs. This will help us see whether your blood pressure drops off in certain parts of the body. We often use this test to check for PAD.

Vascular medicine

Some patients may benefit from medical treatment for their vascular condition. If you have stenosis in your arteries that has not progressed to the point where surgery is necessary, we may refer you to our vascular medicine specialist. We may use vascular medicine treatments before recommending surgery.

Our vascular medicine program includes an internal medicine doctor who specializes in treating vascular conditions. This specialist works closely with your primary doctor and other specialists to develop a plan to reduce your risk for more serious vascular conditions, such as aneurysm or stroke. The plan may include:

• Dietary changes
• Medication
• Structured walking program
• Smoking cessation

Our vascular surgeons have more than 75 years of combined experience in diagnosing and treating vascular conditions. They work closely with vascular medicine doctors, nurses and other specialists who help treat vascular conditions. We also have access to the region’s leading experts in chronic wound care and hyperbaric medicine.