Examination of the arteries

In the Europe Hospitals these arterial problems are diagnosed with the help of Doppler echographie; a none invasive painless investigation which allows imaging of the majority of the blood vessels to show the blood flow in them. This diagnosis will be confirmed in the Radiology Department where various modern imaging techniques such as MRI (magnetic imaging) and angiography is permitting 3D reconstruction. With these techniques arterial narrowing or widening can be exactly located, to permit the planning of personalised treatment.

In general damage to the arteries can be treated in two different ways:

• Either classic surgical intervention: under anaesthetic the vein is removed and replaced with a bridge using another vein, or prosthesis.
• Or endovascular; the damage is repaired from the inside using a simple skin puncture. Usually this procedure is carried out under local anaesthetic and the patient is able to leave the hospital the same day, or the following day. The principal of this procedure is that a balloon is introduced into the vein and is inflated at the level of the damage, widening the artery (percutaneous angioplasty). In some instances a sort of metal spring may be inserted to hold the vein open.