Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. Stroke is probably the most dangerous form of this group. Prompt diagnosis and state-of-the-art treatment can help to save millions of lives.

Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of various vascular diseases. Hardening and thickening of the vessel walls by fat deposition can lead to narrowing of the carotid artery, among many others. Depending on the degree of narrowing, the risk of stroke can be increased significantly. Because the blood supply and blood flow to the brain are interrupted, stroke (also known as cerebral infarction) or temporary, but seriously damaging paralysis, as well as visual and speech disorders, may appear. Although the development of arteriosclerosis can be inhibited by sufficient physical activity, healthy diet, abstinence from nicotine and alcohol, it might mostly occur inevitably at an older age. It is therefore extremely important to keep an eye on your own blood flow.

Screening detects impending stroke

In the vascular medical center at the Marienkrankenhaus all patients with vascular issues before planned vascular surgery receive a so-called screening study — a special examination of the vessels — just to find the critical narrowing spots of the carotid artery and thus detect an imminent stroke. Nevertheless, not only patients from this medical center but also patients from other multidisciplinary clinics and various departments, such as Neurology, Neuroradiology as well as those patients who are referred by other doctors, can be treated by a special surgical method.

Surgical methods on awake patient

Dr. Christos Petridis, the Head of Vascular Surgery Department, removes the bottlenecks of the carotid artery during the surgery under a special form of regional anesthesia — that is, on the awake patient — and thus prevents a stroke from being triggered. "The advantage of surgery without general anesthesia is that we are able to communicate with our patients during the procedure and recognize a possible deficiency of the brain in the patient earlier and thus react accordingly", says Dr. Petridis.

Obviously, with this method make it possible to treat the patient in the operating room with a relatively lighter tranquilizer.

The vascular center at the Marienkrankenhaus has the best technical equipment with radiological and vascular facilities. At this medical center, all types of modern vascular surgeries and interventions on the arterial system are performed. The new central department of surgery and angiography are among the most modern in Northern Germany.

Are you interested in learning more about the treatment methods discussed in this article? Contact us today to speak with a Medscout Healthcare Consultant. Medscout team will support you throughout the entire treatment course.