What Is Endovascular Surgery?

Endovascular surgery is a procedure that is performed using minimally invasive catheter techniques on the arteries or veins. Procedures include aneurysm repair, grafts, stents, varicose vein repair, and more. Endovascular surgery is often performed on an outpatient basis. 

Types of Endovascular Surgery

Types of endovascular procedures include:

• Conditions of the aorta (aneurysms or occlusion)
• Cardiovascular disorders
• Peripheral vascular disease
• Carotid artery disease
• Critical limb ischemia
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• Pulmonary embolism
• Renal (kidney) vascular disease
• Stroke
• Varicose veins
• Hereditary disorders that result in various types of vascular disorders
• Leg pain due to poor circulation

Advantages of Endovascular Surgery

There are many advantages to performing endovascular surgery, including:

• A much shorter recovery period
• Less pain
• Performed in an outpatient setting
• Performed using local or regional anesthesia instead of general anesthesia
• Fewer wound complications after surgery
• Less bleeding
• No need to stay in the hospital
• Less stress on the heart
• Provides a benefit for those at high risk of complications

Endovascular Surgery vs. Vascular Surgery

To get a clear idea of the difference between endovascular surgery and traditional vascular surgery take a look at the chart below, which compares the two procedures when performing an aneurysm repair. 

Qualifying for Endovascular Surgery

Once you compare endovascular surgery and open surgery, you may wonder why open surgery is used at all. There are patient- and procedure-specific differences that drive the decision to perform one or the other. Not all procedures can be safely and effectively approached using an endovascular technique. These include:

• Areas that flex (knees and hips)
• The shape and location of the aneurysm
• The blockage may be too extensive
• Open surgical repair may last longer, which is better for younger people
• People may not like the lifelong surveillance that follows endovascular surgery

Complications

Just as with any other type of surgery, endovascular procedures pose a risk of potential complications, these include:

• Infection
• Blockage of blood flow through the stented vessel
• Stent fracturing
• Blood leakage around the vessel
• Restenosis

Rare Complications

Some serious complications could occur after endovascular surgery, but these are rare, they include:

• A ruptured or burst artery
• Blocked blood flow to an area of the body
• Kidney damage
• Paralysis

A Word From VeryWell

One thing to keep in mind after endovascular surgery is to be sure to inform your dentist or other healthcare providers that you have a graft so they can take this into consideration for your care. You may be prescribed antibiotics before having certain procedures—such as dental surgery—to prevent infection.