Diagnostic tests for atherosclerosis of vessels of lower extremities in University Hospital Erlangen

About the department

The Department of Vascular Surgery at the University Hospital Erlangen offers the full range of diagnostics and surgical treatment of vascular diseases. The department specializes in the surgical treatment of carotid artery stenosis, open and endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm, as well as in the treatment of occlusive peripheral arterial disease. In addition, the department deals with the treatment of patients with venous diseases and diabetic foot syndrome. The priority areas of work of vascular surgeons also include the correction of both common and rare types of vascular malformations. The department's specialists cooperate closely with interventional radiologists and angiologists, so patients can count on an interdisciplinary approach to treatment. Surgical treatment is carried out in progressive operating rooms with state-of-the-art surgical equipment and computer-assisted systems for vital signs monitoring. The department successfully uses sparing endovascular techniques to avoid severe postoperative complications and minimize postoperative pain. The optimal type of surgical treatment is prescribed to the patient based on his specific clinical indications, stage of vascular disease, general health condition, age and other decisive factors. Whenever possible, preference is given to minimally invasive surgery. The department is headed by Prof. Dr. med. Werner Lang.

The department's medical team successfully performs surgical procedures for abdominal aortic aneurysms. An aneurysm is a saccular enlargement of the artery wall. In most cases, surgical interventions become an option of choice only for patients with large aneurysms, the further growth of which can cause irreversible pathological changes or even death. Depending on the particular clinical case, the surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysm involves the replacement of the affected area of ​​the aorta with a synthetic vascular prosthesis or stent implantation. The decision is made at the stage of preparation for the operation and depends on the patient's general health condition, as well as the size, shape and location of the aneurysm. The availability of advanced technical resources in the department allows performing modern endovascular treatment, which has many advantages over classical open surgery. As of today, endovascular interventions represent the most innovative form of surgical treatment. Operations are performed inside the vessel with the use of a special catheter. The catheter is inserted through a small incision in the femoral artery in the groin. The surgeon then places a stent for the aortic wall reinforcement or repairs the affected area of ​​the aorta with a prosthesis. The procedure is performed under real-time imaging guidance, which allows the surgeon to accurately control the entire process. Once the operation is completed, the patient will spend only 2-3 days in the hospital. In the future, patients are advised to undergo regular medical examinations in order to monitor the condition of the implanted stent.

The doctors of the medical facility also specialize in the surgical treatment of various venous diseases. The department quite often deals with the treatment of patients suffering from varicose veins, chronic venous insufficiency, trophic ulcers, deep vein thrombosis, spider veins. As a rule, first-line therapy is conservative treatment: the use of ointments, pills, injection therapy, compression therapy, physiotherapy, laser procedures, etc. If the conservative methods are ineffective and the patient has not got rid of the pathology, the department's doctors resort to surgical interventions. The department offers all advanced surgical techniques, including venectomy, saphenectomy, cryosurgery, cryosclerotherapy, stripping, microphlebectomy, etc. Conventional venectomy involves the removal of the trunk of the great or small saphenous veins. Saphenectomy is indicated for decompensated varicose veins. Cryosurgery involves inserting a special probe into a vein, which is cooled to -90 °C and thereby freezes the affected area for follow-up removal using the same probe. Cryosclerotherapy is an analogue of cryosurgery. During the operation, doctors inject nitrous oxide into the vein, which cools the blood and leads to gradual degradation of the vessel before its subsequent removal. The department's surgeons successfully use stripping to remove the affected area of ​​the saphenous vein on the lower leg or thigh. The intervention is performed under duplex scanning guidance, which allows the doctors to accurately determine the location of the affected vein; the surgeon then makes two small incisions, through which he removes the affected areas of the vein. Microphlebectomy is a completely painless procedure for varicose vein removal. The intervention serves to remove veins through miniature punctures using a special medical instrument. The most advanced method used in the department is laser coagulation. The specialists act with a laser on the inner wall of the vein and thereby obliterate (close) the affected areas. For a month after the procedure, doctors recommend wearing a compression bandage for rapid recovery and edema elimination.

The department's doctors can boast of special experience in the treatment of patients with various vascular malformations, including rare ones. The specialists strive to completely eliminate the pathology and preserve the function of the affected blood vessel. The department offers several types of therapy, which are prescribed based on the results of a preliminary examination. To make an accurate diagnosis, doctors use such diagnostic methods as duplex sonography, most advanced CT and MRI scanning, angiography and others. For the treatment of microfistular lesions of small vessels, the department's specialists use laser therapy. The laser penetrates the pathologically altered vessels and coagulates them without damaging the skin. The final result of the treatment can be assessed 2-4 months after the procedure. The department also performs sclerotherapy and vascular embolization. Sclerotherapy is used for lymphatic and venous malformations. The essence of the procedure is to inject a special drug into the lumen of the vessel, which glues and clogs the walls of the vessel. This method is minimally invasive and provides an optimal functional and aesthetic result. The treatment of arteriovenous fistulas involves the use of embolization: transarterial, transvenous or percutaneous. The goal of the procedure is to close the vessels supplying the malformation with emboli. In addition, the team of the department's vascular surgeons successfully performs microsurgical resection of pathological foci (partial and total).

The department admits patients with diabetic foot syndrome, which is one of the most common complications caused by diabetes mellitus. Such patients are provided with special consultations with the participation of vascular surgeons and endocrinologists. A decisive role in the treatment success is played by the timely seek for competent medical care, which will help prevent the progression of the pathology and, in the worst case, loss of the limb. First, doctors carry out comprehensive diagnostics in order to confirm or exclude the diagnosis. If diagnostic data confirm the presence of diabetic foot syndrome, the specialists begin to plan therapy. The advanced stages usually require surgical treatment. The department's vascular surgeons are competent in performing necrectomy for removing nonviable tissues, balloon angioplasty and bypass surgery to normalize blood flow in the lower limbs. The surgical intervention is complemented by antibiotic therapy and local drug therapy. Also, special orthopedic shoes are selected for patients, which reduce pressure on the affected areas of the foot. With timely treatment, the department's specialists manage to restore blood flow and avoid limb amputation. The prevention of pathology plays a significant role as well, since most patients with diabetes mellitus are at risk of developing this complication.

The department's main clinical focuses include the diagnostics and treatment of the following diseases:

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm
  • Catheter stenting under CT and 3D planning computer system guidance
  • Classical surgery (in rare cases)
• Arteriosclerosis (individual treatment regimens in cooperation with the Department of Radiology)
  • Balloon dilation under local anesthesia
  • Stent implantation
  • Bypass surgery
• Carotid artery stenosis
  • Specific surgical procedures for carotid artery stenosis, which help prevent stroke
• Venous disease (for example, varicose veins, thrombosis)
  • Venectomy
  • Saphenectomy
  • Cryosurgery
  • Cryosclerotherapy 
  • Stripping
  • Microphlebectomy
• Vascular malformations, including rare ones
  • Laser therapy
  • Sclerotherapy
  • Vascular embolization
  • Microsurgical resection
• Other diseases of the vascular system and treatment methods