Minimally Invasive Catheter Procedures Offered at Mercy Medical Center

The Vascular Center at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland is a comprehensive center specializing in circulatory system disorders. Our vascular surgeons practice a variety of advanced treatment options including minimally invasive catheter procedures.

What are Minimally Invasive Catheter Procedures?

Advances in surgical techniques have led to minimally invasive procedures that require smaller incisions and typically produce less post-surgical pain, better results and quicker recoveries. Catheter procedures involve the use of a long, thin flexible tube which is usually inserted into a large vein. The tube is threaded through the vein until it reaches its destination. At The Vascular Center at Mercy, surgeons use a number of minimally invasive catheter treatments to relieve patients of leg pain or swelling or to prevent stroke.

Types of Minimally Invasive Procedures:

Vascular surgeons may use the following minimally invasive catheter procedures:

• Balloon angioplasty – a treatment option that allows vascular surgeons to treat diseased vessels from the inside to alleviate vein and artery blockages.
• Stenting – a wire mesh tube that is placed in the vein or artery to secure the walls to allow blood to flow.
• Varicose vein removal - catheter procedures are performed on larger veins requiring the insertion of the catheter into a vein which is heated and collapsed.