Most of us don't think much about our body's circulatory system — which includes the veins and arteries that transport nutrients to the cells. But disorders of the vascular system, especially the aorta, can be life threatening. The surgeons from Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy diagnose and treat blood vessel disorders from complex abdominal aortic aneurysms to varicose veins.

The Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy Division has an extensive diagnostic facility that offers patients state-of-the-art technology with minimal trauma. For example, fully non-invasive angiograms are possible using magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) that can visualize the blood vessels without inserting a catheter into the vessel. As a result, patients are more comfortable both during and after the procedure.

Penn's Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy is one of a select group of research centers involved in advanced FDA trials investigating a new way to treat abdominal aortic aneurysms. The procedure, endovascular aortic stent grafting, is effective for both low-risk patients and patients who are high risk for conventional surgical repair. This new technology eliminates the need for general anesthesia, and markedly reduces the size of the incision. Recovery from the procedure generally requires only two to three days of hospital care. Patients can usually return to normal activity within one week.

Penn's Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy is the most active center in the region, performing more carotid, aortic, and peripheral arterial repairs than any other. And as the medical literature documents attests — the more surgical cases performed, the better the results.

Learn more about research and medical education at the Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy.