Procedures Offered

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The Mohawk Valley Vascular Center uses cutting-edge devices including those recently approved by the FDA to treat three different vascular conditions: carotid artery disease, thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms and peripheral arterial disease.

Carotid Artery Stenting – Cordis Carotid System and SAPPHIRE Registry Trial

Carotid Artery Stenting is a relatively new endovascular procedure designed to prevent stroke by treating atherosclerotic carotid artery disease. Carotid artery disease - the buildup of plaque in the major arteries of the neck that carry blood to the brain - is an important risk factor for stroke, the nation’s third leading cause of death. Traditionally, most patients undergo an open surgical procedure, called endarterectomy, to treat the disease. However, there are thousands of patients with conditions that make them high-risk candidates for surgery. The new Cordis Carotid System offers these patients a safe, effective alternative to surgical treatment.

The system involves a small stent (tubular metal spring-like device) that is placed in the narrowed area of the artery which then opens the partially blocked artery and holds the plaque against the artery wall. The stent gives the blood vessel structural support and keeps it open, improving blood flow to the brain, thus preventing a stroke. A tiny basket-like device is used at the same time the stent is placed to trap any particles of plaque, blood clot or other material that may be dislodged during the procedure. The Vascular Center is a proud participant in the International SAPPHIRE Carotid Artery Stent Registry Trial, which expands the opportunity for this procedure to the Mohawk Valley Region and Central New York.

Diamondback 360-degree treats Peripheral Arterial Disease

They say diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but they could also be your artery’s best friend, too!

Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) is a life-threatening condition that affects 8 to 12 million Americans. Plaque builds up on the inside walls of blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to legs and arms. As with carotid artery disease, the build up of plaque causes the arteries to harden and narrow – atherosclerosis – reducing blood flow to the arms and feet. PAD can cause claudication, which is leg pain when walking or exercising that disappears when the person stops the activity. It can also cause leg muscle fatigue, cramping and coldness or numbness in the lower legs and feet. In severe cases, the lack of blood flow to the extremity can lead to ulcers or sores that, left untreated, could lead to amputation.

Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. has developed a device called the Diamondback 360-degree Orbital Atherectomy Device that "roto-rooters" its way through even hard, calcified plaque blockages in the legs, restoring blood flow. Using a unique "orbiting" action, a tiny diamond-coated crown uses the principles of centrifugal force to rapidly spin or "orbit" at high speeds and sand away plaque, while preserving the healthy tissue of the arterial wall. The resulting particles are about 75% smaller than red blood cells. The Diamondback has been used, together with many other tools available at the Vascular Center, to relieve leg pain, heal leg wounds, and prevent the need for surgical amputation.

Talent Abdominal and Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Endograft Repair

An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a dangerous bulge or weakening of the body’s main artery that can rupture with fatal consequences if left untreated. It is estimated that 1.2 million people have an AAA and they cause 15,000 deaths each year in the United States. Ruptured AAAs are currently the 10th leading cause of death among U.S. men over age 55, with fewer than 20 percent of people surviving a rupture.

An Aortic Aneurysm Endograft Repair is a procedure using a stent graft - a woven polyester tube covered by a tubular metal web that looks like a Chinese finger trap - to repair this type of aneurysm. When placed inside the diseased vessel, the blood flows directly through the stent graft instead of the an¬eurysm. This removes the pressure on the aneurysm and prevents it from rupturing.

Since 2000, the Mohawk Valley Vascular Center has been leading the region in minimally invasive AAA endograft repair with various FDA-approved devices. In 2007, the Center expanded its aneurysm service to treat thoracic aneurysms. In May 2008, the Mohawk Valley Vascular Center successfully implanted one of the first Talent Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) endograft devices in all of upstate New York. The Talent device, manufactured by Medtronic, features device durability, freedom from leak and movement, and expanded size availability. In October 2008, the Center placed a Talent Thoracic device, another first in upstate.

The Vascular Center has performed more than 200 Talent AAA endograft repairs. One of these repairs was performed on 88-year-old, Richard Taurisano. Richard’s daughter, Cheryl Pereira, is a nurse practitioner for a group of area nephrologists, so she knows the Vascular Center team very well. "They do a wonderful job inserting catheters and improving the blood flow on slow fistulas for our dialysis patients. I had complete confidence in them, and there was no doubt in my mind they’d do the best they could," said Cheryl. "But my concern was that my Dad was not in the best shape physically. There’s no way he would have been able to withstand open surgery."

Vascular Surgeons, Dr. Christopher Max, assisted by Dr. Robert Wasiczko and Interventional Radiologists Dr. Gordon Archibald and Dr. Parvez Asmat, performed the AAA endograft procedure on Richard. "My Dad came through it fine and we were so thrilled," said Cheryl. "Everyone at the Center treated him like he was their own father. They are truly remarkable, and we are forever grateful to them all."