The Vascular Centre is a premier provider of a complete range of Vascular and Endovascular Surgical services at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi.

It provides world class vascular care and promotes collaboration among the different specialties involved in that process. It is dedicated to providing comprehensive and interdisciplinary care to patients with atherosclerosis, the process in which fatty materials, cholesterol and other substances, collectively known as plaque, accumulate in the lining of an artery. This process often is referred to as "hardening of the arteries." Plaques can significantly reduce the blood's flow through an artery. When plaques become fragile and rupture, they cause blood clots that can block blood flow or break off and travel to another part of the body, causing a heart attack, limb loss or stroke.

Promoting collaboration among different specialties allows both established and emerging diagnostic and therapeutic methods to be applied, increasing efficiency and reducing risks to patients. The Vascular Center's emphasis on collaboration will greatly improve the care patients receive. Among the specialties involved in the care of our vascular patients are cardiology, endocrinology,nephrology and interventional radiology.

The Vascular Center's clinical services encompass all elements of vascular care as detailed below:
1. Diagnostic evaluations and medical management
2. Non-invasive vascular testing
3. Diagnostic angiography and endovascular therapeutics (minimally invasive procedures)
4. Surgical care including Inpatient services and critical care
5. Meticulous Follow-up and post – recovery rehabilitation

Vascular Diseases and Treatments at Apollo Vascular Centre

Arterial disease affects most people with age, especially in those who have high risk factors that include patients who suffer with Diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, a sedentary lifestyle, a family history of vascular disease (e.g. Aneurysms), poor nutritional habits or smoke heavily. Patients with poor circulation usually have diseased arteries all over their body. The arteries usually affected are in the legs, heart and neck. The severity of the disease and length of time it goes untreated can make a tremendous difference in the clinical outcome of vascular disease, characterized by stroke, limb amputations or death.

Indraprastha Apollo Hospital is a leading center of excellence in India in the provision of:

1. Treatment of Carotid Artery Disease to prevent Stroke

Hardening of the arteries (Atherosclerosis) affecting the vessels in the neck can lead to strokes. Patients with carotid artery disease and stroke are treated by a team of vascular surgeon and neuro-physician dedicated to stroke prevention. We also have a certified vascular laboratory for the non-invasive assessment of the carotid arteries. Depending upon the narrowing of the carotid artery, intervention may be recommended even in patients who have not yet had a stroke. The standard proven form of treatment for this problem is an operation called carotid endarterectomy to remove the plaque. In patients who are high-risk or unsuitable for surgery a non-invasive treatment is available called carotid artery stenting with distal embolic protection.

2. Treatment of Diabetic Foot and Peripheral Arterial Disease of Lower Limb Arteries

Arterial disease develops when cholesterol or other fatty inflammatory deposits build up inside the artery walls and cause a narrowing or blockage. The arteries gradually narrow to the point where blood flow from the heart to vital organs like brain, kidneys upper and lower limbs as well as to the bowel becomes insufficient for survival. The legs and feet are often the first areas of the body to show the effects of this disease, although other patients may have strokes from cholesterol formation in the carotid arteries in the necks.

Lower extremity symptoms may include an aching, tired or heavy feeling in the calf of the leg, thigh or buttock when walking or exercising. Patients may also experience discoloration of the toes or feet, cold or pale feet and toes, numbness or tingling in toes or feet, decreased hair growth on legs and feet, and/or persistent ulcers or infections on the feet, toes or legs. If left untreated this may cause Gangrene of the foot. On a case by case basis, our vascular team has shown that these revascularization (endovascular and bypass) procedures save limbs and ultimately provide a better quality of life for their patients. With appropriate care, even patients considered high-risk can undergo these procedures safely and effectively. Our vascular surgeons have documented thousands of successful patient case histories that detail how complex revascularizations using distal bypass operations and angioplasty techniques have achieved a healed foot and avoided amputation. If even a small portion of the foot can be saved, it allows the person to walk effectively and to lead a reasonably normal life.

3. Management of Thoracic and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Weakening of the aortic vessel wall in the chest or abdomen leads to ballooning of aorta with the blood pressure and eventually leads to its expansion and rupture. Rupture of aortic aneurysms can cause rapid exsanguinations of blood in the chest or abdominal cavity leading invariably to death in majority of patients. Having performed the first-ever Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair in India in 1997, our Vascular Surgeons tackle all the routine and complex aneurysm problems, and specialize in hybrid procedures for difficult and re-do abdominal and thoracic aneurysms. Our Vascular surgeons are leading opinion makers in this area of expertise and provides consultancy to bio-medical engineering companies on the clinical aspects of minimally invasive vascular surgery and design of stent grafts. Our vascular team advocates endovascular aneurysm repair for ruptured aortic aneurysms which is known to significantly reduce mortality in these patients.

4.a. Laser Treatment of Varicose Veins and Management of Venous Disease

Varicose veins are a known cause of severe physical and psychological discomfort. The superficial veins stretch and bulge under the skin and create pronounced, bumpy "cords" on the legs. They are more common in women and in people who sit or stand in the same position for long periods of time. Endovenous Laser treatment EVLT in conjuction with sclerotherapy can in 90-97% afflicted patients treat varicose veins quite effectively. This is a minimally invasive procedure that doesn’t require general anesthesia or cuts, is virtually painless allowing return to normal active life within 24-48 hours.

b. Leg Ulcer and Deep Vein Valve Surgeries

In patients with venous ulcers (ulcers caused by venous disease only) there is abnormal reverse flow (reflux) in the veins usually due to damaged or defective deep vein valves. One of our senior Vascular Surgeons, Dr.Tripathi has devised the technique of ‘Trapdoor Internal Valvuloplasty’ and has one of world’s largest experience in this area.

5. Vascular Access surgery for Renal Failure and Cancer Chemotherapy.

We routinely provide support to our dialysis and Chemotherapy teams to provide expert advice and treatment of complicated access related procedures and reconstructive surgeries in the form of Arterio-venous fistulae formation and correction of complications as well as maintenance of chemo-ports.

6. Sophisticated Diagnostic Imaging Services at the JCI-accredited Indraprastha Apollo Hospital

Radiology Department provides excellent support for our specialty including Duplex Ultrasound, 64 slice state of art CT Scan, MR Angiography, Radionuclide Scintigraphy and Digital Subtraction Angiography Lab allow for accurate diagnosis and follow-up of patient. In addition to Complex Endovascular procedures in the DSA Lab, we are introducing exciting ultrasound based endovascular procedures for patients with renal failure which include peripheral angioplasties and bedside Inferior Vena Cava filters.