Vascular and endovascular surgery
Surgical interventions are performed on large veins and arteries such as the aorta, carotid artery and the arterial axes of the lower limbs.
Arteriovenous fistulas are performed for patients undergoing hemodialysis. These are direct connections between artery and vein that use blood flow to remove waste products from the blood.
Pathologies treated by vascular and endovascular surgery:
- Carotid artery disease
- Peripheral vascular disease
- Diabetic foot
- Deep vein thrombosis.
Heart surgery
Hospital Ochoa performs various types of heart surgery, including:
- Valve repair or replacement.
- Aortic and coronary surgery (with or without extracorporeal circulation).
- Cardiac electrostimulation with permanent pacemaker implant.
Surgical procedures
Arterial bypass
When the arteries that carry blood and oxygen to the heart are narrowed or hardened, there are various methods for reversing this situation, such as through medication, lifestyle changes and/or angioplasty. If the desired results are not achieved, a heart bypass may be necessary.
This surgical procedure opens an alternative route for blood to reach the heart. The surgeon removes a healthy section of a vein from the patient’s own leg and joins it to the coronary artery above and below the blocked area so that blood can flow normally.
Carotid endarterectomy
This is used to treat carotid artery disease when waxy fatty deposits build up in one of these vessels. The plaque build-up reduces blood flow to the brain and requires removal.
Endovascular aortic aneurysm repair
This surgical procedure can fix the dilated part of the aorta thanks to the placement of stents that prevent blood from passing through the aneurysm, thus reducing the risk of rupture.
Diagnostic tests
Colour Doppler echocardiography
This imaging technique combines ultrasound and Doppler technology to observe the inside of veins and arteries, as well as the movement of blood flow. It is a painless and harmless test, and it requires the patient to stand upright in order to achieve the highest degree of accuracy.
CT angiography of lower extremities
This is a non-invasive vascular study of the arterial vessels in the iliac area and legs. The latest generation of imaging technology and iodinated contrast allows for 2D and 3D visual reconstructions.
Magnetic resonance angiography
Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) is a group of techniques based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to image blood vessels. It can be used to detect:
- Aortic aneurysm.
- Atherosclerosis (arteriosclerosis) of the carotid arteries, aorta and legs.
- Arteriovenous malformations or small aneurysms in cerebral vessels.
- Alterations in the renal vessels.
Cardiac catheterisation
This procedure allows for the anatomy of the heart and coronary arteries to be assessed. Catheters are inserted into the heart muscle itself, and these collect valuable information about the amount of blood pumped, the pressure in the chambers, or valve alterations. It also makes it possible to detect congenital defects, measure oxygen concentrations in different parts of the heart and find atrial or ventricular connections in the septum.
