Department of Vascular Surgery and Transplantology - Rambam Health Care Campus Haifa

About the Department of Vascular Surgery and Transplantology at Rambam Health Care Campus Haifa

The Department of Vascular Surgery and Transplantology at the Rambam Health Care Campus Haifa provides the accurate diagnostics and effective treatment of vascular diseases. In addition, the field of competence includes kidney transplantation from living and deceased donors as part of the treatment of patients with end-stage renal disease. The department has already performed more than 500 successful kidney transplantation operations. To provide patients with optimal medical care, the department uses the most advanced diagnostic and therapeutic methods, such as CT-, ultrasound- and MRI-guided operations. The department is headed by Prof. Dr. med. Tony Karram.

The priority areas of the department's ​​specialization is the treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms. The selection of the treatment method for aneurysm depends on its location, size and general health of the patient. In the case of asymptomatic small aneurysms, the doctors carry out an active monitoring, which consists of the control of the state of the aneurysm using CT or MRI every 6-12 months. The patient with high blood pressure will be prescribed antihypertensive medication therapy, which serves to relieve blood pressure on the affected aortic area. However, in the case of large aneurysms or aneurysms accompanied by severe clinical symptoms, the patient usually needs surgical treatment. The surgical procedure to remove thoracic aortic aneurysm can be carried out in different manners, such as the removal of the affected area of ​​the vessel and its replacement by graft from synthetic material and endovascular treatment. The first option involves an intervention under general anesthesia with thoracotomy. During the endovascular operation, a catheter is inserted through a small incision into the femoral artery. Under the guidance of X-ray or computed tomography, the doctor introduces a catheter to the affected aortic area. Then he implants a stent in the area of ​​the aneurysm. The endovascular approach is effectively used for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm and descending thoracic aortic aneurysm. Obviously, the treatment technique is selected individually, taking into account the specific clinical case of each patient.

Also, the department's medical team shows excellent results in the treatment of varicose veins. When treating this pathology, the specialists prefer conservative and minimally invasive methods, which can be performed on an outpatient basis and do not require long-term follow-up recovery. For patients with uncomplicated varicose veins, the department's doctors recommend to change their lifestyle – to normalize weight, to abandon tight clothes, and also to avoid prolonged standing. An additional method, which helps to reduce leg pain and stop the progression of the disease, is compression underwear.

The department's range of medical services includes: 

• Diagnostics and treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms
• Diagnostics and treatment of varicose veins
  • Sclerotherapy
  • Foam sclerotherapy (the procedure involves the use of a special foam solution, which is injected into the deformed vessel)
  • Laser correction of varicose veins
  • Radiofrequency and laser ablation
  • Ligation and removal of deformed veins
  • Phlebectomy (on an outpatient basis)
  • Endoscopic vein surgery
• Diagnostics and treatment of carotid artery disease, including prosthetics for carotid stenosis
• Peripheral artery bypass
• Renal artery bypass
• Formation of shunts for dialysis
• Diagnostics and treatment of hyperhidrosis
• Kidney transplantation in the case of end-stage renal disease (from living and deceased donors)
• Other therapeutic options