Narrowing or occlusion of the iliac or leg arteries can lead to a considerable reduction in quality of life: Depending on their location, they can be accompanied by a feeling of numbness or pain when walking or at rest. In the case of advanced disease, there are critical circulatory disorders of the toes or lower leg, which can lead to wound healing disorders or even to the death of toes or the lower leg.

A large number of these constrictions or occlusions can be reopened using minimally invasive techniques. The Department uses all established procedures for this, such as balloon angioplasty (widening of the constriction with a balloon) or stenting (widening of the constriction with a vascular support consisting of a metal mesh). Individually tailored materials are used depending on the location and appearance of the condition. For example, special drug-coated balloons and stents are used if indicated.

If there is an acute occlusion of the pelvic and leg arteries, the aim is to reopen them quickly. For this purpose, we have numerous minimally invasive procedures available that enable rapid dissolution (e.g. by injecting a blood clot-dissolving drug into the occlusion via a catheter), aspiration (suctioning out the clot via a catheter) or fragmentation (fragmentation using a special catheter) of the blood clot.

Constrictions or occlusions of the intestinal arteries can lead to intestinal circulatory disorders, which are typically associated with pain after food intake. A large number of these obstructions or narrowings can be reopened with good success using minimally invasive techniques.

Narrowing of the renal arteries can be accompanied by a restriction of kidney function, which can lead to a loss of kidney function and the need for lifelong blood washing (dialysis). In most cases, renal artery constrictions or occlusions can be treated minimally invasively if detected in time. In the case of renal artery constrictions, we work in close cooperation with the Clinical Department of Nephrology and Hypertension.

In addition to the more frequent localizations of findings described above, there are other vascular territories in which vascular constrictions can occur, e.g. in the area of the arteries supplying the arm. Here, too, we offer analogous minimally invasive treatment procedures (balloon angioplasty, stenting).

Pathological dilatations of arteries, so-called aneurysms, can occur for a variety of reasons. Depending on their location, these can often be treated minimally invasively. After a detailed diagnostic work-up of the findings, accompanying causative vascular changes, such as constrictions or occlusions, can be detected and treated and the aneurysm eliminated.

The majority of abdominal aortic aneurysms (abdominal aortic aneurysms) are now treated in a minimally invasive manner with so-called endovascular stent grafts (tubular prostheses that are inserted into the aneurysm from the inside via the vascular system). This therapy cuts off the aneurysm from the blood circulation, causing the blood remaining in the aneurysm to clot, drastically reducing the risk of rupture (risk of the aneurysm bursting) and shrinking the aneurysm. If the aneurysm is not completely eliminated during such therapy, for example because smaller blood vessels continue to fill the aneurysm, the desired thrombosis (clotting of the remaining blood) does not occur. Whether such therapy is medically necessary must be assessed on an individual basis.

Bleeding from organ-supplying arteries (arteries) inside or outside an organ can occur for a variety of reasons. Such bleedings can often be closed minimally invasively by inserting coils (small metal spirals) or particles (plastic beads) without impairing the blood supply to the rest of the organ.

Uterine fibroids can be characterized by atypical menstrual bleeding or abdominal pain. In addition to surgical removal of the uterus, the majority of patients have the option of minimally invasive sclerotherapy. For this, the artery supplying the fibroid is located. Particles are then injected, which cause the fibroid to die and scar.