At Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Heart and Vascular Center, our team of highly skilled vascular specialists is dedicated to providing the most advanced care available in the U.S. We offer a full spectrum of cutting-edge medical, surgical and catheter-based (endovascular) procedures to address a wide range of vascular conditions that affect all blood vessels except for heart, lungs and brain.  

At our academic vascular surgery center, we combine cutting-edge technology with the latest research and clinical expertise. The result? You get the most advanced, personalized care available. Our commitment to excellence ensures that every patient receives the highest standard of treatment, tailored to their unique needs.

We offer highly specialized facilities to care for you, including an on-site clinical vascular lab, endovascular operating room and one of the region’s few hybrid vascular and cardiac catheterization labs.

Our surgeons also specialize in addressing many vascular conditions, including:

  • Removing vascular blockages
  • Repairing weakened, bulging areas of blood vessels (aneurysms) to prevent them from tearing or rupturing
  • Preventing strokes
  • Repairing aneurysms of the aorta, your body’s main artery, in the stomach (abdominal) and chest (thoracic)
  • Treating a variety of other vascular issues throughout the body
  • Improving circulation in the legs, arms, neck and kidneys
  • Managing vascular trauma
  • Addressing compressive vascular syndromes, such as thoracic outlet syndrome
  • Treating varicose veins and other conditions 

Why Choose Us?

Leading expertise: Our vascular medicine program is a national leader in heart and vascular care, surgery and research. We house western North Carolina’s only advanced cardiac care and transplant program. We were the first Chest Pain Center in the region to be accredited by the Society of Chest Pain Centers, and we have disease-specific certification by The Joint Commission in acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) and congestive heart failure. We have received the highest possible recognition for quality cardiac surgery from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Other accolades include:

  • Recognized for heart attack care as a Gold-level provider, the highest level available, by the American College of Cardiology
  • Exceed national standard for treating emergency chest pain with balloon angioplasty (The American College of Cardiology recommended time is 90 minutes; our time is significantly lower)
  • Recognized for maintaining the highest levels of care for high-risk cardiac patients over a 2-year period by the National Cardiovascular Data Registry®
  • Accreditation for mobile echocardiography from the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories (ICAEL)
  • Beacon award received for Critical Care Nursing Excellence in the CTICU
  • Excellence in Life Support Award received from the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization.
    • Our program ranks among the top in the country for outcomes in mortality, readmission and length of stay. Our vascular lab was one of the first in the nation and the first to receive accreditation from the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories (ICAVL). Leaders in their field, our vascular surgeons perform some of the most complex and leading-edge treatments available, as well as routine vascular care of the highest quality. Our team also includes the skilled physicians and staff at our locations in Asheboro and Elkin; Wilkes, Davie and Lexington medical centers; and Congdon Heart and Vascular Center in High Point, North Carolina.   
  • Innovative treatments: We provide leading-edge vascular technology and treatments for vascular disease. As one of the region’s highest-volume vascular programs, we handle some of the area’s most complex cases.
  • Breakthrough research: Our patients receive access to the latest clinical trials and investigational devices that often aren’t available elsewhere in the region. 
  • Nationally recognized care: We are a national referral center for patients with renovascular hypertension and other vascular conditions.

Team Approach

 
We’re committed to providing the best possible care, which includes delivering timely and accurate diagnoses and therapies. To achieve this, we work closely with you to develop a personalized treatment plan that includes education and peer support groups. We also establish strong partnerships with referring physicians to ensure a seamless transition of care and coordinated treatments.

Our care team includes:

  • Vascular surgeons
  • Vascular medicine doctors
  • Nurse practitioners
  • Physician assistants
  • Nurse navigators

Our team collaborates extensively with cardiologists and interventional cardiologists, creating a multidisciplinary team for focused patient care.

What to expect from your first appointment

Whether you need treatment for varicose veins or have a diseased blood vessel that needs to be replaced, we’ll work with you to develop a customized treatment plan. Here's what you can expect before, during and after your first appointment.

  • Before your appointment: Ask your provider to send us your records, including your medical history, test results and all images available (this can include vascular labs, CT scans, X-rays, angiograms, MRI, etc.).
  • During your appointment: You will meet with a vascular specialist who will review your records and medical history, do a physical exam, discuss your test results and provide a comprehensive assessment, including your treatment plan.
  • After your appointment: Depending on your condition and treatment plan, you may be scheduled for surgery or further testing. Your nurse will reach out with specific follow-up instructions.  

Conditions Treated

We treat the full spectrum of vascular diseases, including but not limiting to:

  • Thoracic and abdominal aortic disease
    • Aortic aneurysm (enlargement of aorta)
    • Aortic dissection (tearing of aorta)
  • Carotid artery disease
    • Carotid stenosis (narrowing of arteries)
    • Stroke
    • Carotid artery dissection (tearing)
    • Carotid body tumor
  • Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
    • Claudication (leg pain when walking due to lack of blood flow)
    • Aortoiliac occlusive disease (blockage of the aorta and iliac arteries)
    • Lower-extremity ischemia facing amputation
    • Nonhealing leg or foot wounds
    • Popliteal artery aneurysms and entrapment
  • Hemodialysis access creation (fistulas and grafts)
  • Thoracic outlet syndrome
  • Nutcracker syndrome
  • Mesenteric ischemia (reduced or blocked blood flow to the small intestine)
  • Renal artery stenosis
  • Fibromuscular dysplasia
  • Venous disease
    • May-Thurner syndrome (compression of left iliac vein)
    • Complications of venous stents
    • Chronic deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
    • Post-thrombotic syndrome (pain following DVT)
    • Acute deep vein thrombosis (blood clot in deep vein)
    • Symptomatic varicose veins (pain due to enlarged veins)
    • Chronic venous insufficiency (blood pooling due to damaged veins)
    • Venous leg ulcers (leg sores due to poor blood circulation)
    • Inferior vena cava (IVC) atresia (narrowing)
    • Pelvic congestion syndrome (pooling of blood in pelvic veins)
    • Lymphedema

Vascular Surgery Treatments

We specialize in treating all types of vascular disease – ranging from the most common cases to the most complex. We also create individualized treatment plans that are tailored to your unique circumstances, including nonsurgical vascular medicine, ensuring you receive the best possible care. Treatments include:

Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

As one of the centers with the highest volume in the region, we repair and treat abdominal aortic aneurysms with breakthrough treatments.

  • Endovascular aortic repair (EVAR): A minimally invasive procedure that involves placing a stent (small mesh tube) within the enlarged part of the abdominal aorta, sealing the aneurysm off from the inside.
  • Fenestrated endovascular aortic repair (FEVAR): A minimally invasive procedure that involves the placement of a custom-designed stent graft with small openings to allow blood flow to the vital organs while sealing off the weakened portion of the aorta.
  • Open surgical repair for abdominal aortic aneurysm: An incision in the abdomen allows access to the aorta, and the diseased portion is removed and replaced with a graft (that serves as a new artery) to restore normal blood flow.

Aortic dissection procedure

Aortic dissection is when the inner layer of the aorta tears, causing blood to flow between the layers of the aortic wall. This can lead to life-threatening complications. We often treat this condition with the TEVAR procedure and offer unmatched expertise.
  • Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR): A minimally invasive procedure that involves placing a stent (small mesh tube) within the torn part of the aorta to prevent further tearing or rupture.

Carotid artery disease procedures

We offer a variety of treatments to remove or bypass blockages in the carotid arteries including:
  • Transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR): A hybrid procedure that involves temporarily reversing blood flow away from the brain to protect it from loose plaque, then placing a stent (small mesh tube) in the artery to relieve the blockage.
  • Carotid endarterectomy: Involves making an incision on the neck and opening the carotid artery to remove plaque within the artery wall and improve blood flow.
  • Carotid stenting: A minimally invasive procedure that involves placing a stent in the carotid artery to open the blocked area and stabilize the plaque within the artery.

Complete care for peripheral artery disease (PAD)

To help you maintain an active lifestyle and lower your risk of cardiovascular complications, we develop a customized treatment plan to care for PAD. We offer:
  • Medical therapy to reduce your symptoms with a specialized vascular medicine provider
  • PAD rehabilitation
  • Help to quit smoking
  • Advanced, noninvasive diagnostic test
  • Minimally invasive therapies, including angioplasty to widen narrow blood vessels, stenting to open blockages and atherectomy to remove plaque and restore blood flow
  • Surgical techniques, including endarterectomy to remove plaque and widen blocked arteries and surgical bypass to reroute blood flow around blocked blood vessels

Limb salvage therapies

Our diverse team of specialists works together to identify and manage risk factors that could potentially lead to the loss of limb function or amputation. We offer:
  • Medical management of conditions like hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol
  • Smoking cessation programs
  • Specialized wound care centers with hyperbaric treatment and podiatry care
  • Orthotics equipment to help support and protect your limb
We also offer personalized treatment options for individuals with critical limb ischemia, a severe form of peripheral vascular disease that often results in leg amputation.

 

Venous procedures

We focus on preventing, diagnosing and treating all types of vein diseases and offer a variety of procedures to treat issues like blood clots, blockages and varicose veins.
 
Our most common procedures include:
  • Iliac vein stenting: A minimally invasive procedure that involves placing a stent (small mesh tube) into the iliac vein to expand it and improve blood flow. 
  • Inferior vena cava (IVC) stenting: A minimally invasive procedure that involves placing a stent into the IVC to open the vein and improve blood flow.
  • Inferior vena cava (IVC) reconstruction: Involves repairing a damaged or blocked IVC by removing a portion of the vein and replacing it with a graft or using stents to open the vein and improve blood flow.
  • Open venous surgery: Involves making incisions in the skin to access the vein and remove scar tissue or stents; often additional venous stenting is done as well.
  • Varicose vein procedures: Typically involves minimally invasive techniques to close off leaking veins; removal of varicose veins may also be performed alongside these procedures.
  • Ulcer bed sclerotherapy: Involves ultrasound guidance and injecting a solution into the ulcer to promote healing and improve blood flow in venous leg ulcers.