Metropolitan General’s 3rd Department of Vascular Surgery constitutes a modern Vascular Surgery Unit, which treats the whole spectrum of Vascular Surgery Diseases, offering innovative therapies.
Typical diseases and modern solutions
VENOUS DISEASES
1. Superficial venous insufficiency (varicose veins, phlebitis)
Free yourself from annoying varicose veins with the help of the most modern, minimally invasive techniques (laser vein therapy, sclerotherapy); they are pain-free, involve neither incisions nor stitches, require short-term hospital stay, and deliver excellent aesthetic results.
Modern endovascular techniques not only eliminate varicose veins in a convenient manner for the patient, but, provided they are duly applied, they actually limit recurrences. Namely, intraluminal laser addresses neovascularization, which significantly contributes to old saphenectomy-induced recurrences. It is no coincidence that the American Academy of Vascular Surgery and Phlebology Guidelines 2011 are pretty straightforward: “…intraluminal treatment should be preferred over saphenectomy…”.
At our Hospital, the excellent treatment outcome in varicose veins management is well-ensured with customized and meticulous treatment planning, using “vein mapping”. “Vein mapping” is performed with the assistance of cutting-edge ultrasound (U/S) equipment, while it allows spotting on the affected foci, to help the intraluminal laser perform the procedure. The 3rd Department of Vascular Surgery holds extensive experience in the successful management of large-sized pathological veins, with the use of intraluminal laser.
2. Deep Venous System (DVS) diseases
Our Hospital surgically treats DVS diseases for the management of serious low extremity conditions, such as large edemas (swelling), ulcers (open wounds), and severe pain due to central veins obstruction in the lower extremities. Surgical planning is drawn up in cooperation with the University of Michigan, USA, and the valuable contribution of Professor Anthony James Comerota.
ARTERIAL DISEASES
1. Aneurysmal disease
Our Hospital treats complex aneurysms in the thoracic, abdominal aorta, as well as aneurysms in arterial network areas. Through small incisions, we perform modern and minimally invasive techniques, using intraluminal materials (stents), as well as traditional open surgeries, where applicable.
2. Carotid disease
In case of obstructive carotid arteries, we perform surgical procedures to deal with the narrowing of the arteries and to prevent strokes, either using traditional open surgery (endarterectomy) or endovascular access to treat blocked arteries with the use of stents, where needed.
3. Peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD)
Occlusive arteriopathy is a common disease of the western world. Not only it restricts patient mobility, because of the severe pain during walking, it can also cause painful wounds and/or amputations. Apart from classic by-pass surgery, our Hospital can also offer modern endovascular techniques, using local anesthesia and minimal invasion. We use state-of-the-art medical equipment that is advanced inside the artery to “clean” the clogged area (intraluminal atherectomy) and open the occluded vessel. Moreover, in complex cases, we conduct hybrid procedures, i.e. synchronous open and endovascular procedures, thus exploiting each technique’s advantages in order to deliver excellent outcomes.
4. Diabetic foot
Due to arterial ischemia, the treatment course of a patient with diabetes and skins lesions depends on the quality of the reperfusion procedure. Our Hospital performs pioneering endovascular access, not only through typical groin areas, but also through peripheral arteries using U/S imaging, to increase surgical success rates.
5. Angioaccess for dialysis
We conduct all traditional angioaccess in dialysis patients, following meticulous U/S study of the upper and lower extremities. Detailed mapping of the upper and lower limb arterial-venous network assist in the proper planning of vascular access, to allow time until the dialysis patient encounters the inability of a vascular access construction.
The 3rd Department of Vascular Surgery executes complex vascular access in the lower limbs, using central veins and avoiding synthetic grafts, save for the cases where all other options have been exhausted.
Staff
Chief:
Dr. Nikolaos Tsekouras, MD, ECFMG, PhD Vascular Surgeon,
PhD awarded by the University of Athens
former Clinical Fellow Jobst Vascular Institute (Toledo, Ohio)
University of Michigan, USA
Associates:
Dr. Christos Gkekas, MD, PhD, FEBVS Vascular Surgeon, PhD awarded by the University of Athens
Dr. Christos Gomatos, MD Anesthesiologist
Dr. Georgios Damasiotis, MD Anesthesiologist
Contact number: +30 210 650 2981
