The Regional Vascular Center in Seattle cares for patients with a broad spectrum of circulatory problems involving arteries, veins and the lymphatic system.

Whether you have varicose veins or hardened arteries — or a less common condition such as lymphedema, an acute aortic aneurysm or carotid stenosis — the specialists at the Vascular Center can help.

With typically no symptoms and disastrous consequences, an aortic aneurysm can be a ticking time bomb. Ben Starnes, MD, at Harborview Medical Center and UW Medicine, talks about a new, less invasive way to treat aortic aneurysms before they burst.

If you’re suffering from a vascular condition, you probably already know that abnormal blood flow can cause irritating spasms and sensations. However, it can also result in significant pain and conditions that endanger limbs and lives: blood clots, aneurysms and organ injury.

Any condition’s underlying cause can be simple or complex. The Vascular Center teams with UW Medicine cardiology and radiology specialists to diagnose your illness and outline your treatment options. UW Medicine physicians’ ability choose the right diagnostic tests in the right order — not only prioritizes your health but also respects your time and minimizes expenses.

In both elective procedures and emergencies, UW Medicine vascular specialists provide all our patients with expert surgical and nonsurgical care. Our innovative treatment approaches follow in the footsteps of UW physician Dr. Eugene Strandness, who pioneered the concept of duplex ultrasound, a standard of care worldwide for diagnosing blocked arteries.

• In many instances, medications in finely tuned amounts and combinations can manage and improve your condition.
  • We participate in national clinical trials of new devices and medications to treat aortic pathology, better control blood pressure and prevent vascular illness in at-risk people.
• If your doctor determines that you would benefit from surgery, we use minimally invasive endovascular procedures in every possible instance.
  • Such procedures include clearing clogged vessels with balloon angioplasty, laser, implanting of stents, and placement of stent grafts. Catheter laser ablation can successfully close faulty vein valves.
• We also perform conventional open surgery to repair traumatic injuries to vessels and, for instance, when ischemia (insufficient blood flow) threatens your organs.