Wide range of services

PAD stands for Peripheral Arterial Disease which refers to blockage of the arteries in the legs. Blocked arteries occur when plaque forms within the arterial walls narrowing the space that blood flow has to pass through. Sometimes, the plaque can completely occlude or block the artery, limiting the blood flow to the rest of the leg. We offer screening to determine your risk for PAD or determine the severity of existing blocked arteries. 

Innovative Vascular Institute offers a minimally invasive procedure called an angiogram. This procedure is done under twilight sedation, which means you are still breathing on your own, in clinic. The procedure takes approximately 1 hour. During the procedure, Dr Long accesses one of the arteries at the top of the leg, near the groin area, and is then able to thread a small catheter into the artery. This effectively allows for us to see the inside of the artery to determine how much plaque (narrowing of the artery) is present. A laser is used to loosen the lesions within the arterial wall and can also inflate a small balloon inside the artery to open the narrowed vessel and establish better blood flow. Everything is removed and the access point is then closed with a small closure device. After the procedure, you will be monitored by our registered nurses to make sure you are ready to go home with improved blood flow in your leg. 

After the procedure, rest for the remainder of the day. We recommend you resume your regular activities in 2 days. The restrictions are as follows:

Do not lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk for one week after the procedure

Do not submerge the incision in a pool, hot tub or other large body of water such as a lake or river for 10 days after the procedure.

You may remove the small dressing from the puncture site in 24 hours.

Hemorrhoids can be a very bothersome and recurrent chronic condition. Studies show that 1 in 20 people suffer from hemorrhoids. If you have hemorrhoids that have not responded to medical management, you may be a candidate for hemorrhoid artery embolization. This is a minimally invasive procedure done by our interventional radiologist, Dr Long. A catheter is inserted into the femoral artery and guided to the hemorrhoidal vessels where embolization occurs which effectively reduces the rectal bleeding, pain and itching that is associated with internal hemorrhoids. The procedure takes about an hour with little to no downtime following the procedure. 

Uterine fibroid embolization

Uterine fibroids, also known as uterine leiomyomas are benign smooth muscle tumors of the uterus. These fibroids can cause many bothersome symptoms including excessive menstrual bleeding, pelvic fullness, urinary symptoms such as frequency or trouble emptying the bladder, constipation and painful intercourse. Imaging such as a pelvic MRI will help the doctor determine the size and severity of the fibroids. Treatment used to be limited to surgical removal or ablation. A uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) is effective at shrinking the fibroids that cause the painful symptoms. Access is obtained at the femoral artery in the groin and a catheter is advanced to the artery that is supplying blood flow to the fibroid where the embolic agent is injected. The most common side-effects are pain and bleeding. 

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Prostate artery embolization 

This option is for patients who suffer from Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy or BPH, which affects 50% of men ages 50-60 with occurrence that increases with age. A prostate artery embolization (PAE) is a generally well-tolerated, minimally invasive procedure that offers symptom reduction through treatment of the blood vessels. Treatment through the blood vessels also reduces retrograde symptoms that are associated with other BPH procedures such as a TURP. Access is obtained through the femoral artery and a catheter is inserted into the prostate arteries where small particles are injected to embolize the vessel. This effectively reduces the blood flow to the prostate, allowing it to shrink in size. The reduction in size will alleviate many BPH symptoms over time.

You will arrive at your scheduled time of arrival and will be received by one of our Registered Nurses. They will prepare you for your procedure, by doing a detailed preoperative assessment, checking your vitals, and starting an IV. You will then be introduced by a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist or circulating nurse who will administer your anesthesia. Dr Long will explain the procedure in a detailed manner and answer any questions you may have. You will then be transferred to the procedural room where you will be prepped in a sterile environment. The procedure will last from 1-2 hours depending on the amount of blockages that require treatment. Dr Long will end the procedure by closing the puncture site with a closure device that will establish hemostasis. You will then be transferred back into the preoperative area and lay flat for approximately an hour. A nurse will monitor for possible signs of bleeding throughout this time. **If the site remains clean ** you will be cleared for discharge. 

Plan to be at your appointment for 4-5 hours. Preparing you for your procedure takes about one hour, the procedure itself will last 1-2 hours, and you will be monitored for signs of bleeding for at least one hour after your procedure. 

A staged procedure is scheduled when the doctor is unable to open all the blockages in your arteries at your initial angiogram. This usually happens when they are not able to go through the blockage from one side. At your next appointment, the doctor will plan to access an artery in your foot and approach the blockage from the opposite side. This reduces radiation time, contrast amount, and less anesthesia creating a safer outcome for you. 

All our procedures are considered minimally invasive procedures. Everything is done through a puncture site. 

We recommend you resume your normal activity in two days and cannot lift anything heavier than 10 lbs. for one week. If your employer cannot accommodate this restriction we can provide a doctor’s note to justify time off.