Overview
Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital’s Vascular Center provides comprehensive care in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders affecting the circulatory system, including arteries and veins. Vascular disease affects millions of people. It is referred to as a “silent killer” because often the first symptom is a catastrophic event like a stroke or hemorrhage.
Common vascular diseases and conditions include:
- Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
- Aneurysm
- Renal artery disease
- Buerger’s disease
- Peripheral venous disease
- Varicose veins
- Venous blood clots
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Pulmonary embolism
- Chronic venous insufficiency
With the advancement of minimally invasive procedures such as angioplasty and graft placement, many significant vascular disease can be treated without major surgery. Conditions such as abdominal aortic aneurysm and severe arterial disease of the arms or legs can be treated by the introduction of a catheter into the arteries. The surgical site is very small and recovery time is dramatically reduced.
Services
Vascular Diagnostic Laboratory
Our Vascular Diagnostic Laboratory – with diagnostic tools and expert technical and medical staff – offers fast, accurate and reliable vascular testing. All our vascular lab tests and procedures are non-invasive. There are no needles, dyes, medications, or X-rays used, and the procedures are typically painless. The sophisticated tests are able to accurately document the presence, location and severity of arterial and venous disease.
Vascular Screening Exams
Patients concerned about having arterial disease or abdominal aortic aneurysm can refer themselves for a self-paid screening exam. This exam is inexpensive, fast and accurate.
Radiology
Offering PET/CT scanner, an open MRI for claustrophobic and/or obese individuals, and a special procedure suite in which many angiography procedures are completed to help detect and grade the severity of vascular disease.
Vascular Surgery
Mercy Hospital's Surgery Center is adjacent to the hospital, offering a complete range of surgical services in a convenient centralized location. The center includes an endovascular suite with vascular imaging capabilities, enhancing the surgeons' abilities to perform vascular procedures. The suite contains a control room, a fluoroscopy bed, surgical lighting and anesthesia capabilities, all within a sterile environment.
Common vascular procedures performed at our Surgery Center include:
- Carotid angioplasty/stent
- Carotid endarterectomy
- Peripheral endovascular
- Endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm (endograft stent)
- Bypass graft
Wound & Hyperbaric Medicine
Our Wound & Hyperbaric Center is dedicated to healing chronic wounds, preventing lower limb loss and optimizing outcomes for our patients. For more information, call 330.489.1135.
Mercy Hospital Boutique
Mercy Hospital Boutique offers lymphedema care and compression stockings. For more information, call 330.456.9960.
Diabetes Education and Smoking Cessation
Diabetes and smoking significantly increase the risk of developing vascular disease.
Vascular Diagnostics Laboratory
Our Vascular Laboratory’s commitment to quality is demonstrated by the achievement and maintenance of accreditation by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC). The Vascular Laboratory adheres to the high quality and monitoring standards which are established by the IAC.
Vascular tests and procedures offered at Mercy Hospital include:
- Carotid Duplex – A quick and easy ultrasound and Doppler exam of the arteries that supply blood flow to the brain. The purpose of this procedure is to evaluate for possible narrowing of these vessels. A reduction or interruption in blood flow to the brain may result in a stroke.
- Venous Duplex – An ultrasound and Doppler evaluation of the veins of the legs or arms to evaluate for possible blood clot formation in the limbs. Blood clot, which may occur in the arms or legs, has the potential to move and result in a serious medical condition which may affect a person’s wellbeing. This procedure may also be performed to evaluate for possible abnormalities of flow in the veins.
- Arterial Doppler – This procedure includes using blood pressure cuffs and ultrasound probe to assess for blood flow problems to the arms or legs, commonly referred to as peripheral vascular disease (PVD), or peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
- Arterial Duplex – This is an ultrasound procedure. Ultrasound and Doppler are used to evaluate the arteries of the legs or arms to check for possible disease in the arteries that may reduce blood flow to the arms or legs.
- Renal Artery Duplex – Ultrasound and Doppler is used to image and measure blood flow through the arteries that supply blood flow to the kidneys (renal artery). Renal artery narrowing is a leading cause of hypertension, and reduced kidney function. The renal artery duplex study is quick and non-invasive. Patients need to fast from eating or drinking after midnight on the night before the procedure. This test is typically scheduled in the morning.
- Vein Mapping – Ultrasound and Doppler are used to evaluate the veins of the arms or legs for use as arterial bypass graft or for planned kidney dialysis shunt.
Vascular Screening Exams
Millions of Americans suffer from peripheral vascular disease (PVD), a group of conditions that affect the blood vessels outside the heart and brain. A leading cause of disability among individuals over 50 and those with diabetes, PVD increases the risk of a potentially fatal stroke, blood clot, heart attack or aneurysm (rupture of a blood vessel).
That’s why vascular screenings conducted by an accredited vascular laboratory are so important, especially for those over age 55 who have one or more of the following vascular disease risk factors:
- Atherosclerosis
- Diabetes
- History of smoking
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Family history of circulatory problems
Vascular screening exams – including Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screening, Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Screening and Carotid Artery Disease Screening – are available at our Vascular Laboratory. The tests are interpreted by a physician and are sent directly to the patient. The patient is encouraged to take the results to their primary care physician to discuss.
All staff who perform screening exams are Registered Vascular Technologists (RVT) or Registered Vascular Sonographer (RVS).
To schedule a vascular screening, call Mercy Hospital Central Scheduling at 330.489.1300. To learn more about our screening program, call 330.489.1197.
Appointments
All procedures performed in the Vascular Laboratory must be ordered by a physician with the exception of screening exams, which are performed on a self-referral basis. If you have questions about obtaining testing at Mercy Hospital’s Vascular Diagnostics Laboratory, please contact the department at 330.489.1197.
To schedule procedures or a screening exam, please call the scheduling office at 330.489.1300.
Vascular Center
Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital
1320 Mercy Drive, NW
Canton, OH 44708
330.489.1197
