Vascular Surgery

The University of Illinois Medical Center’s Division of Vascular Surgery is involved in the diagnosis, evaluation and management of all types of arterial, venous and lymphatic diseases exclusive of that affecting the heart and intracranial vessels.

Specialized expertise within the Division of Vascular Surgery exists in the following areas:

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery
• Surgical repair of peripheral arterial aneurysms
• Carotid artery surgery
• Complex revasculation of the great vessels arising from the aortic arch
• Major and complex upper and lower extremity arterial revascularization procedures
• Peripheral arterial bypass
• Surgical treatment of complex venous disorders of the lower extremities
• Pediatric vascular surgery reconstruction

The Division of Vascular Surgery is responsible for the supervision of the Noninvasive Vascular Laboratory as well as the interpretation of all noninvasive vascular testing procedures performed.

We are also involved in several multidisciplinary treatment programs, including the Lower Extremity Wound Healing Program, the Varicose Vein Program and a variety of cooperative efforts between the Division of Vascular Surgery and the Division of Interventional Radiology in the combined endovascular as well as conventional surgical treatment of complex arterial occlusive lesions.

Peripheral Vascular Surgery

All members of the Division of Vascular Surgery are board certified in general surgery and also hold certificates of special qualifications in general vascular surgery issued by the American Board of Surgery. The surgeons within the Division of Vascular Surgery have cumulative experience of more than 42 years in peripheral vascular surgery. Areas of special expertise include the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms as well as peripheral arterial aneurysms. The members of the Division of Vascular Surgery have recently been trained in the newly developed endovascular abdominal aortic graft procedures for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms without conventional open surgical procedures.

The Division of Vascular Surgery was selected as one of only 50 centers in the United States and Canada to participate in the landmark North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial. All members within the Division of Vascular Surgery have extensive experience and excellent outcomes in carotid artery surgery as well as complex revascularizations of the vessels arising from the aortic arch.

The Division of Vascular Surgery has also developed a long-standing and beneficial relationship with the Division of Interventional Radiology in the combined treatment of patients with multi-segmental arterial disease. The procedures frequently involve the performance of proximal balloon angioplasty with or without intra-arterial stent placement followed immediately by conventional lower extremity femoral to distal bypass for the treatment of multi-segmental disease. The combination of these interventional endovascular procedures along with conventional lower extremity bypass has significantly shortened hospital stays and greatly improved limb salvage rates in these complex cases. The division is currently involved in further collaborative efforts with the Department of Interventional Radiology in the above-mentioned endovascular stented graft placement techniques for the treatment of abdominal aortic as well as iliac artery aneurysms.

Professional Staff

• James J. Schueler, M.D., Chief, Division of Vascular Surgery
• Henry Baraniewski, M.D., Ph.D.
• David Landau, M.D.

Lower Extremity Wound Healing Program

The Division of Vascular surgery in conjunction with the Division of Plastic Surgery developed approximately 10 years ago a multidisciplinary clinic focusing on the needs of patients with complex lower extremity wounds including venous statis ulceration and combined arterial and venous ulcerations, as well as treatment of the diabetic foot. This clinic, staffed by both vascular surgeons and plastic surgeons, had immediate access to consultations from Rheumatology and Orthopedic Surgery. In most instances, new patients will have a complete evaluation of the lower extremity arterial, venous and lymphatic systems followed by the development of a management and treatment plan formulated jointly by vascular surgery and plastic surgery.

Those patients with extensive and chronically recurrent lower extremity venous may qualify for treatment with muscle free-flap transfer for durable, long-term coverage of the ulcer. This procedure was developed jointly by the Divisions of Vascular Surgery and Plastic Surgery in the late 1980s, and at present the University of Illinois Medical Center has the most experience and the best results with this procedure reported to date in the English-speaking world.

Professional Staff

• James J. Schuler, M.D., Chief, Division of Vascular Surgery
• Norman Weinzweig, M.D., Division of Plastic Surgery and head of Microvascular Surgery

Noninvasive Vascular Laboratory

The Division of Vascular Surgery manages the Noninvasive Vascular Laboratory and members of the division interpret all noninvasive vascular studies performed. The Noninvasive Vascular Laboratory at the University of Illinois Medical Center was one of the first in the Chicago area to be accredited by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories and has held unlimited accreditation in the fields of arterial testing, venous testing, and cerebrovascular testing continuously since 1993.

Noninvasive vascular testing procedures performed include carotid duplex scanning, transcranial Doppler evaluation of the intracerebral circulation, colorflow duplex imaging of the upper and lower extremity arterial systems, color flow duplex imaging of the upper and lower extremity venous systems, the preoperative arterial and venous mapping of both upper and lower extremity arterial systems in patients scheduled for vascular access procedures for dialysis or arterial bypass surgery, duplex imaging of previously placed arterial or venous reconstruction procedures as part of a graft surveillance program to prevent graft thrombosis, penile arterial pressure measurements and the evaluation of impotence, and cold immersion stress testing with digital artery pressures and temperatures measured for the evaluation of Raynaud’s Phenomena.

The Noninvasive Vascular Laboratory performs approximately 6,000-7,000 of the above procedures per year. All results are reported in a preliminary fashion by telephone to the referring and ordering physicians immediately upon completion of the examination. Reports are available within 24-48 hours. The Noninvasive Vascular Laboratory is open between 7:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Tests can be scheduled by calling (312) 996-6230.

Professional Staff

• James J. Schueler, M.D., Chief, Division of Vascular Surgery, and Director, Noninvasive Vascular Laboratory
• Henry Baraniewski, M.D., Ph.D.
• David Landau, M.D.
• Jose Montalvo, Jr., R.N., R.V.T., technical director
• Janice Zasadzinski, R.V.T.
• Maria Llanes, R.N.
• James Wojociechowski, R.N.
• Barbara Rizzo, R.D.M.S.

Appointments

Patients will be seen at the Outpatient Care Center Surgery Program on the campus of the University of Illinois Medical Center. To make an appointment, call 1-800-842-1002.

Physicians wishing to consult or refer can call 1-800-842-1002 or the Vascular Surgery Program direct at 312-996-7595.