Vascular Surgery

Expert diagnosis and treatment for complex vascular conditions

Vascular surgery is a lesser-known surgical subspecialty, but it’s a critical field of medicine. Vascular surgeons treat the entire vascular (or circulatory) system: a 60,000-mile network of vessels (arteries, veins and capillaries) which carry blood away from the heart to the body and then from the body back into the heart.

Whether in the operating room or through medical management, vascular surgeons work with their patients to ultimately prevent stroke, blood vessel rupture or limb loss and improve quality of life. They can see patients for a wide variety of issues – such as narrowing in blood vessels (like in the neck or legs); removing plaque (fat/cholesterol) from the carotid artery walls of the neck; weakened, enlarged blood vessels (aneurysms); non-healing wounds in the feet; discomfort or swelling from varicose veins; dialysis access and more.

Vascular surgeons often are consulted during emergencies or traumas concerning the circulatory and blood vessel systems, to reconstruct a blood supply or save a patient’s limb.

Common procedures

BCH's board-certified vascular surgeons provide 24/7, 365 call coverage, as well as clinic consultations through Boulder Valley Surgical Associates,to treat a wide range vascular conditions. Some of the most common procedures performed include aortic aneurysm repair, carotid artery surgery and lower limb revascularization.

Aortic aneurysm repair - An aortic aneurysm is a balloon-like bulge in the aorta, the large artery that carries blood from your heart to the rest of your body. If the aortic aneurysm dissects or ruptures, it can become an emergency and need surgical treatment as soon as possible. Aneurysm surgery, which involves repairing or replacing the affected section of the aorta, can be performed with an open or endovascular approach.
Carotid artery surgery - Carotid artery disease occurs when fatty deposits, called plaque, build up in your carotid artery, essentially blocking the artery and preventing blood flow to the brain. As a result of this reduced rate of blood flow to the brain, patients are extra susceptible to a stroke. More severe blockages require carotid artery surgery called a carotid endarterectomy. A surgeon makes an incision along the front of the neck, opens the carotid artery and removes the plaques that is clogging the artery.
Lower limb revascularization - Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a common circulatory problem associated with narrowing of the arteries caused by fatty deposits (plaque) in the lower limbs, which impedes blood flow. Revascularization surgery restores blood flow in the leg artery by clearing the blockage or finding a way for blood to go around the blockage.

Additional common treatments

Recurrent or chronic wounds (especially on the feet and legs)
Non-healing foot ulcers or diabetic foot ulcers
Leg pain when walking that improves with rest
Sudden limb pain, coldness or numbness
Known aneurysm or abnormal imaging findings
Swelling, heaviness or skin discoloration in legs
Varicose veins
24/7 coverage for peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis (including fistulagram and fistulas)

Our team

To better serve the entire Boulder Valley community and expand our surgical options, BCH is proud to introduce our new team of board-certified vascular surgeons: Melanie Hoehn, MD and Pantelis Hadjizacharia, MD, RPVI, FSVS, FACS – or “Dr. Pan” as he’s known to colleagues and patients.

Drs. Hoehn and Pan currently take appointments through Boulder Valley Surgical Associates (BVSA) and work on-call at BCH’s Foothills Hospital.

Each surgeon brings:

A decade or more of operating room skills to their consultations with patients and families
Ongoing knowledge of the latest surgical techniques
Commitment to offering the safest, most modern and most effective treatments for all forms of vascular disease
Extensive training in minimally invasive endovascular procedures and traditional open vascular surgical methods, allowing customized therapies to best suit each patient’s needs.
A reputation for taking the time to listen, explain conditions clearly, and partner with patients and their families in care decisions.