Vascular Surgery

The Center for Vascular Care at MedStar Washington Hospital Center
The Center for Vascular Care at MedStar Washington Hospital Center is the largest, most experienced diagnostic and treatment center for vascular problems in the metropolitan area.   Our specialists treat the most critical vascular patients, resulting in excellent outcomes. Our team includes vascular medicine specialists, vascular surgeons, interventional cardiologists and radiologists who work together to ensure a well-rounded approach to your care.

If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of vascular disease, choosing one of our outstanding vascular specialists is the best choice you can make for continued good health.

Learn more about vascular disease, diagnostic options and treatments.

Symptoms of vascular disease
Often, the first symptom of peripheral artery disease is a painful cramping of your leg muscles when you walk, followed by relief when you rest. This is called intermittent claudication, and it happens when your leg muscles do not get enough oxygen-rich blood. As the condition progresses, you may develop a burning or aching pain in your feet and toes while resting.

Other symptoms include:

Do you think you have symptoms of vascular disease? Take our quiz to find out if you need to see one of our experienced vascular specialists.

• Leg pain, tightness, tiredness or weakness
• Difficulty walking
• Cool skin temperature in your arms and legs
• Ulcers on legs, feet or toes
• Skin color changes in your arms and legs
• Symptoms of other vascular disorders include:
• Persistent abdominal or back pain (abdominal aortic aneurysm)
• Chest pain and breathing difficulty (pulmonary embolus)
• Swollen legs
• Varicose veins
• Loss of vision, slurred speech (carotid artery blockage)
• Sudden, severe chest pain (heart attack)

Experience and Expertise
Our vascular medicine specialists and vascular surgeons evaluate and treat the widest spectrum of vascular disease.  Our vascular lab is accredited by The Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories (ICAVL), and members of our staff are Registered Vascular Technologists, ensuring the highest quality of care and sophisticated diagnostic testing available.

Other vascular specialists refer to our Center
As home base for the most complex helicopter system in the area—patients are flown here from hundreds of miles away—our physicians are among the most experienced at quickly and effectively evaluating and treating the signs and symptoms of vascular disease.  In fact, our physicians are so widely respected, other vascular surgeons refer to our Center.

Convenient Access
Usually you will see one doctor at the Center for Vascular Care for an initial evaluation. This physician will then discuss your case with other specialists, to confirm a diagnosis and decide on the best treatment plan. The center's team works closely with your primary care physician to manage your care.

Our vascular medicine specialists and surgeons treat:

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm
• Aortic dissection
• Carotid artery disease
• Claudication
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Diabetic foot
• Lymphedema
• Mesenteric ischemia
• Peripheral aneurysm
• Peripheral artery disease
• Renal artery disease
• Thoracic aortic aneurysm
• Varicose veins
• Venous insufficiency

We perform the following diagnostic procedures:

• Angiography
• Computerized tomographic angiography (CTA)

We perform the following treatment procedures:

• Aortic aneurysm surgery
• Aortic dissection surgery
• Aortic endovascular stent graft
• Angioplasty and stenting
• Carotid endarterectomy
• Dialysis access
• Diabetic foot surgery
• Endovascular therapy
• Surgical bypass
• Thrombolytic therapy
• Varicose vein surgery

To schedule an appointment for testing, or to find one of our experienced vascular surgeons, call 202-877-DOCS (3627) or online at www.medstarwashington.org/doctorsline .