A vascular surgeon is a physician who specializes in keeping the blood vessels of the body healthy. Yankton Medical Clinic provides vascular surgery offering everything from treatment for spider veins to therapies for plaque buildup in arteries and veins.
Some vascular conditions can be treated non-surgically. Indeed, most vascular surgeons will first try to find non-invasive solutions to a patient’s vascular problems. But when surgery is called for, it’s important to undergo the right corrective procedure. Yankton Medical Clinic offers cutting edge, high-tech vascular surgery options for patients with circulatory problems.
What is Vascular Surgery?
Vascular surgery is not a single procedure. Instead, there are numerous procedures that can help patients achieve healthy blood vessels. In a general sense, vascular surgeons specialize in helping you keep your circulation system healthy and are responsible for everything from imaging and diagnostics to critical care.
Vascular surgery is employed when there is no safe non-surgical way to achieve the desired level of health in the veins or arteries. Dr. Luke C. Serck, M.D., is the Yankton Medical Clinic vascular surgery specialist and will administer all vascular surgical procedures, including diagnostics and non-invasive treatments.
Vascular Surgery Procedures
Yankton Medical Clinic provides a wide variety of vascular surgery procedures to our patients. These procedures are performed by Dr. Serck and include the following:
Procedures for Peripheral Arterial Disease
- Angioplasty and stenting – Angioplasty is a procedure in which a small catheter is guided through your coronary blood vessels in order to detect blockages. A stent is a small mesh tube that may be left in place in order to help keep your blood vessels open. In many cases, the two steps are performed concurrently for patient comfort, health, and convenience.
- Atherectomy – This minimally invasive procedure is designed to remove plaque buildup from blood vessel walls. Atherectomy can improve circulation and help diminish the risk of heart attack and stroke.
- Bypass – An arterial bypass will seek to improve circulation by providing a way for blood to move around blockages. If a vein or artery is severely clogged, a healthy blood vessel can be grafted into place to provide a route around the blockage. As a result, a successful bypass can significantly improve arterial health.
Procedures for Carotid Artery Disease
- Carotid Endarterectomy – When the neck arteries that supply blood to the brain become significantly clogged with plaque, carotid endarterectomy may be performed to improve circulation. During this procedure, an incision is made in the neck, and the surgeon will clean out the arteries.
- TransCarotid Artery Revascularization – This procedure, sometimes called a TCAR, can improve circulation to the brain and diminish your risk of stroke. Dr. Serck was the first vascular surgeon to perform the minimally invasive TCAR in the South Dakota area.
- Minimally invasive carotid artery stenting – A stent is a tiny, mesh, metal tube that can help keep arteries open and blood flowing. During this minimally invasive procedure, a catheter will be threaded through your blood vessels up to the carotid artery, where the stent will be placed.
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm – The aorta is your body’s main blood highway, so an aortic aneurysm can be life-threatening if not treated. An aneurysm is a bulging blood vessel; in this case, Dr. Serck will perform the treatment to prevent the rupture of the blood vessel.
- Minimally invasive endovascular stent graft – During an endovascular stent graft, a stent will be placed within the aorta in order to keep blood flowing smoothly. Two small incisions are placed in the groin area, and a catheter is used to place the stent in position.
- Surgical treatment – In many cases, carotid artery disease may require critical or immediate surgical intervention. Yankton Medical Clinic can help patients access those services, and Dr. Serck can perform the required procedures.
Treatment for Varicose Veins
- Sclerotherapy – This procedure is used to diminish the appearance of varicose veins or spider-veins. A medication is injected into the blood vessels or lymph vessels to achieve the desired result. Sclerotherapy is often performed right in our Yankton Medical Clinic offices, located in Yankton, SD; Scotland, SD; Wagner, SD; and O’Neill, NE.
- Radiofrequency ablation (venous closure) – Using radiofrequency pulses to heat and close off targeted veins, radiofrequency ablation is a popular option to eliminate varicose veins. This procedure is often performed in the office as well.
Treatment for Deep Vein Thrombosis/Pulmonary Embolism
- Catheter-directed thrombolysis – Thrombolysis is a medical therapy employed to eliminate unwanted or aberrant blood clots within blood vessels. Managing blood clots can help protect organs and vital functions. Initially, the clots tend to form in the legs, pelvis, or lower body but can be very dangerous when they start to travel.
- Systemic fibrinolysis – This procedure is a way to encourage the body to begin breaking down blood clots holistically across the body. Fibrinolysis is the body’s natural process of breaking down blood clots.
- Surgical embolectomy – When blood clots around the heart or lungs are particularly severe, a surgical remedy may be required. Surgical embolectomy is the use of open heart surgery to remove clots and ensure healthy circulation. In general, this procedure is used only in serious or emergency situations.
Treatment for Dialysis Access
- Fistula Placement – Dialysis involves the filtering of chemicals and byproducts from your bloodstream (typically, the job your kidneys would be doing). To facilitate dialysis, a fistula is placed within your body, creating an access point for the dialysis machine. Because the fistula must interface with your circulatory system, this procedure is performed by Dr. Serck.
Your South Dakota and Nebraska Vascular Surgeon
A healthy vascular system can help prevent serious conditions, such as stroke and heart attack. So, if you have questions about vascular surgery or your vascular health, contact specialist Dr. Serck’s office at 605-664-2742 and schedule a consultation!
