Across the Carle Health system, patients have access to many vascular treatments and procedures that address a range of risk factors and vascular conditions. Vascular surgeons work alongside a patient’s care team to ensure treatment is tailored to best meet their unique needs.
“We take care of various vascular problems using a combination of techniques that are not only minimally invasive, but often involves no procedures at all,” Tom Dooley, MD, vascular surgery, Carle Health Methodist Atrium Medical Office Center, said.
Patients can access vascular care at many locations in the Champaign-Urbana, Peoria and Bloomington-Normal areas. Vascular disease is an umbrella term to describe a range of conditions like Carotid Artery Disease, Peripheral Artery Disease, varicose veins and more.
"Some of the most prevalent venous conditions that we see are lower extremity swelling, painful varicose veins, deep venous clots, open ulcers or wounds, spider veins and bluish and purple discoloration around the ankles," Beth Tumilty, DO, FACC, RPVI, Heart and Vascular, Carle BroMenn Medical Office Center, said.
“Treating a particular problem means knowing the patient's history and risk factors,” Dr. Dooley said. “We also rely on non-invasive testing without the use of radiation or dye injected into their system to diagnose problems. This way, there is no risk of any complications during the process of investigating their concerns.”
For many, lifestyle, nutrition changes and medication improve wellness by managing symptoms and risk factors. In other cases, treatment is needed. And Carle Health is home to revolutionary procedures that are advancing vascular care.
“Though a lot of lower extremity swelling can be due to vein disease, it’s important to be able to diagnose and treat congestive heart failure as a potential cause for swelling,” Dr. Tumilty said. "At Carle Health Medical Group, we have the expertise in diagnosing and treating both venous disease and heart failure. If the leg swelling or symptoms are cardiac in nature, we can easily refer to many of our excellent cardiologists that we work with closely."
For Carotid Artery Disease management, patients have access to TransCarotid Artery Revascularization (TCAR), a clot-blocking stent placed in a blocked artery to prevent stroke.
“TCAR has been quite a revolutionary approach to cerebrovascular disease,” Scott Painter, MD, vascular surgery, Carle Health Methodist Hospital, said. “It significantly simplifies stent delivery to the carotid artery while using a neuroprotective device to prevent any pieces of the carotid artery from breaking loose and traveling to the brain.”
TCAR is also a safer treatment option for patients with congestive heart failure or who have recently experienced a heart attack. Because only a small incision is needed, scarring is much less visible and recovery time after treatment is shorter.
“I prefer this method because the incision is made further away from important facial nerves and structures that could be injured during a traditional open carotid surgery,” Dr. Painter said.
Varicose veins are also frequently treated at Carle Health. This condition occurs when increasing blood pressure in the veins causes them to burst. “Currently, we most commonly use radiofrequency ablation for treating varicose veins, in combination with phlebectomies,” Dr. Painter said.
Radiofrequency ablation is a non-surgical procedure that seals off damaged varicose veins. A phlebectomy removes the varicose veins sitting just under the surface of the skin. “We also are trained and equipped in using Varithena™ and Venaseal™ [injections that seal off damaged veins] which are less invasive and have excellent results,” Dr. Painter said.
Carle Health patients can also receive treatment at Vein and Vascular Care where interventional radiologists and vascular surgeons perform minimally invasive procedures. Diagnostic testing and treatments for vascular conditions aim to reduce symptoms and pain.
“In vascular clinic, we diagnose and treat peripheral vascular disease. ‘Blocked arteries’ in the legs can frequently be a marker for plaque buildup in the coronary arteries that bring blood supply to the heart,” Dr. Tumilty. “Our group can treat blocked arteries in the heart and legs, and we can diagnose and treat abdominal aortic aneurysms.”
Access to treatments and skilled vascular clinicians is keeping vascular care close to home for those who need more advanced options.
“I saw the need for less invasive means of treating complex vascular issues,” Dr. Painter said. “When I completed my fellowship, I was excited to bring these methods to Peoria and work closely with people who have mentored me during my training.”
Carle Health aims to remove barriers to care to improve patient experiences and health outcomes. “My goal was to provide care so that patients would not need to make long trips to larger medical facilities for their care,” Dr. Painter said.
For more information about vascular care across the Carle Health system, visit Carle.org.
“We take care of various vascular problems using a combination of techniques that are not only minimally invasive, but often involves no procedures at all,” Tom Dooley, MD, vascular surgery, Carle Health Methodist Atrium Medical Office Center, said.
Patients can access vascular care at many locations in the Champaign-Urbana, Peoria and Bloomington-Normal areas. Vascular disease is an umbrella term to describe a range of conditions like Carotid Artery Disease, Peripheral Artery Disease, varicose veins and more.
"Some of the most prevalent venous conditions that we see are lower extremity swelling, painful varicose veins, deep venous clots, open ulcers or wounds, spider veins and bluish and purple discoloration around the ankles," Beth Tumilty, DO, FACC, RPVI, Heart and Vascular, Carle BroMenn Medical Office Center, said.
“Treating a particular problem means knowing the patient's history and risk factors,” Dr. Dooley said. “We also rely on non-invasive testing without the use of radiation or dye injected into their system to diagnose problems. This way, there is no risk of any complications during the process of investigating their concerns.”
For many, lifestyle, nutrition changes and medication improve wellness by managing symptoms and risk factors. In other cases, treatment is needed. And Carle Health is home to revolutionary procedures that are advancing vascular care.
“Though a lot of lower extremity swelling can be due to vein disease, it’s important to be able to diagnose and treat congestive heart failure as a potential cause for swelling,” Dr. Tumilty said. "At Carle Health Medical Group, we have the expertise in diagnosing and treating both venous disease and heart failure. If the leg swelling or symptoms are cardiac in nature, we can easily refer to many of our excellent cardiologists that we work with closely."
For Carotid Artery Disease management, patients have access to TransCarotid Artery Revascularization (TCAR), a clot-blocking stent placed in a blocked artery to prevent stroke.
“TCAR has been quite a revolutionary approach to cerebrovascular disease,” Scott Painter, MD, vascular surgery, Carle Health Methodist Hospital, said. “It significantly simplifies stent delivery to the carotid artery while using a neuroprotective device to prevent any pieces of the carotid artery from breaking loose and traveling to the brain.”
TCAR is also a safer treatment option for patients with congestive heart failure or who have recently experienced a heart attack. Because only a small incision is needed, scarring is much less visible and recovery time after treatment is shorter.
“I prefer this method because the incision is made further away from important facial nerves and structures that could be injured during a traditional open carotid surgery,” Dr. Painter said.
Varicose veins are also frequently treated at Carle Health. This condition occurs when increasing blood pressure in the veins causes them to burst. “Currently, we most commonly use radiofrequency ablation for treating varicose veins, in combination with phlebectomies,” Dr. Painter said.
Radiofrequency ablation is a non-surgical procedure that seals off damaged varicose veins. A phlebectomy removes the varicose veins sitting just under the surface of the skin. “We also are trained and equipped in using Varithena™ and Venaseal™ [injections that seal off damaged veins] which are less invasive and have excellent results,” Dr. Painter said.
Carle Health patients can also receive treatment at Vein and Vascular Care where interventional radiologists and vascular surgeons perform minimally invasive procedures. Diagnostic testing and treatments for vascular conditions aim to reduce symptoms and pain.
“In vascular clinic, we diagnose and treat peripheral vascular disease. ‘Blocked arteries’ in the legs can frequently be a marker for plaque buildup in the coronary arteries that bring blood supply to the heart,” Dr. Tumilty. “Our group can treat blocked arteries in the heart and legs, and we can diagnose and treat abdominal aortic aneurysms.”
Access to treatments and skilled vascular clinicians is keeping vascular care close to home for those who need more advanced options.
“I saw the need for less invasive means of treating complex vascular issues,” Dr. Painter said. “When I completed my fellowship, I was excited to bring these methods to Peoria and work closely with people who have mentored me during my training.”
Carle Health aims to remove barriers to care to improve patient experiences and health outcomes. “My goal was to provide care so that patients would not need to make long trips to larger medical facilities for their care,” Dr. Painter said.
For more information about vascular care across the Carle Health system, visit Carle.org.
Categories: Redefining Healthcare
Tags: Cardiology, Clinic, Heart, Services, Surgery, Surgical, Treatment, Vascular, Vein