Department Introduction

It is our pleasure to welcome you to the Department of vascular diseases at Hassabo International Hospital (HIH). We are proud of our outstanding efforts in providing the most comprehensive and advanced medical care for our patients through its collaboration with other surrounding diagnostic and specialised interventional centres.. Our vascular surgeons are board-accredited and provide evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of the full spectrum of the vascular diseases, including the latest medical, interventional, and surgical approaches. Here, patients can benefit from the broad knowledge, experience, and capabilities that our caregivers provide. Patients who are cared for by Hassabo international hospital are considered as partners in their care.

Department Overview

What is vascular surgery medicine?

Vascular surgery is division of medicine concerned with evaluation, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases of the vascular system which consists of arteries, veins and lymphatic.

Who is the vascular surgery doctor?

Vascular surgeons are physicians who are well trained to manage diseases of the vascular system. Patients with vascular diseases are treated by interdisciplinary team consisting of vascular surgeons, vascular physicians, vascular radiologists and vascular technologists who carry out non-invasive vascular tests using ultrasound.

About our Department

The Department of Vascular Surgery at Hassabo international hospital along with its collaboration with surrounding diagnostic and highly specialized centres provides comprehensive service for adults and children with vascular diseases. Our services extend to the full range of arterial, venous, and lymphatic disorders, including diseases of the carotid artery, aorta, visceral, and extremity arteries. Our specialists are pioneers in treatment of carotid stenosis, thoracic and thoracoabdominal aneurysm, aortic dissection, abdominal aortic aneurysm, critical limb ischemia, venous thrombosis, and compartment syndromes. HIH vascular specialists’ focus is solely on your vascular health. having all this collaborated expertise through partnerships with other highly subspecialized health care centres focused on you, means that your care is discussed among this multidisciplinary team, your test reports are available as early as possible and scheduling your appointments is made in coordination. HIH vascular specialists with special expertise in your condition work together to provide the most appropriate treatment for you.

When to see a vascular surgeon

General physicians focus mainly on a range of medical conditions. But, vascular specialists focus exclusively on the condition of your vascular system.
People are more prone to have vascular disease with aging. The other factors that increase the risk include:

  • Males are more prone than females.
  • Family history of vascular or heart diseases
  • Pregnancy (due to hypercoagulability state)
  • Illness or injury
  • Long periods of sitting or standing
  • Diabetes or hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol in blood)
  • Heavy Smoking
  • Obesity
  • an unhealthy diet
  • lack of exercise
  • stress

Weight loss, healthy food, and giving up smoking can help vascular disease.
If you experience any of the following symptoms, your physician will refer you to a vascular specialist.

The warning symptoms include:

  • Intermittent claudication
    One of the symptoms of arterial blockage which is experienced by pain or cramping in the arms or legs that develops with exercise and subsides with rest. Its severity and location vary depending upon the location and extent of blockage of the involved artery. The most common location is the calf muscle of the leg, leading to calf or leg pain while walking affecting one or both legs.
  • Rest pain in the legs
    It is a more serious form of the condition which occurs when the artery occlusion is almost complete resulting in inadequate blood and oxygen supply to the legs even at rest. The resulting severe pain typically affects the feet.
    Other symptoms of vascular disease include:

    • Numbness of the legs or feet
    • Weakness of the calf muscle
    • A feeling of coldness in the legs or feet
    • Feet turn pale on lifting the legs, and turn dusky red in dependent position
    • Loss of the hair on the top of the feet and thickening of the toenails.
    • Poor wound healing in the legs or feet.
    • Painful ulcers and/or gangrene in the toes.

Our collaborated Services

Do What it Takes to Start, To Have a Healthy Heart

  • Angiography
    This test is a contrast x-ray to examine the blood vessels. It is considered a0s the gold standard for detecting occlusions in the arteries, as it can be used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. In addition, it helps your vascular surgeon determine the most appropriate treatment options. The procedure may take several minutes or up to several hours, depending on how difficult the test is and how much treatment is given.
  • Toe-Brachial Index
    It is a non-invasive highly specific method for diagnosis of peripheral arterial disease. It measures the ratio of ankle to brachial systolic blood pressure
  • Carotid Doppler
    This painless, noninvasive procedure is used to evaluate and measure the rate of blood flow through your carotid arteries and detect possible blockages. No radiation, dye or needles are used. The test can be done at HIH vascular laboratory, outpatient clinic or the radiology department.
  • Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) and Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) procedures
    These are non-invasive, advanced imaging studies that give detailed information about your blood vessels. These tests use provide 3D image of the vascular disease—an important step in evaluating the extent of the disease and how best to treat it.
  • Duplex Ultrasound
    Non-invasive procedure evaluates the blood flow through your arteries and veins. This test provides information to enable your vascular surgeon make a sound diagnosis and outline a treatment plan. Accuracy is critical, so HIH vascular Department provides this test by a credentialed sonographer in an accredited vascular laboratory.
  • Aortic aneurysm repair
    Aortic aneurysms are a widening or ballooning of the thoracic or abdominal aorta due to infection or weakening of the arterial wall. If an aortic aneurysm bursts, it causes severe life-threatening internal bleeding. To prevent rupture, our dedicated staff of vascular surgeons provides minimally invasive procedures to repair aortic aneurysms.
  • Carotid artery treatment
    The carotid arteries in the neck are the main blood of the brain. When these arteries become narrow, usually due to atherosclerosis, these arteries become more prone to a blood clot sticking in these narrowed arteries; this results finally in diminished blood supply to your brain which can end in stroke.
    Your Hassabo international hospital specialists may recommend medication to prevent the blood clots formation and reduce your risk of stroke. If your condition needs more intervention, HIH vascular surgeons can perform the most appropriate procedure to improve your blood flow.
  • Other procedures include:
    • Angioplasty
    • Endarterectomy
    • Surgery to remove the plaque.

What We Treat

  • Aortic Aneurysms
  • Aortic Dissection
  • Arm Artery Disease
  • Atherosclerosis
  • Carotid Artery Disease
  • Chronic Venous Insufficiency
  • Connective Tissue Disorder (CTD(
  • Fibromuscular Disease
  • Hyperlipidemia
  • Lymphedema
  • Mesenteric Ischemia
  • Peripheral Aneurysm
  • Peripheral Arterial Disease
  • Portal Hypertension
  • Pulmonary Embolism
  • Renal Artery Disease
  • Stroke
  • Varicose Veins
  • Vascular Trauma
  • Vasculitis
  • Venous Ulcers

Treatments

Fortunately, many vascular diseases are quite manageable, if you seek a medical advice early. Through HIH vascular diseases and surgery department and its joint collaboration with surrounding diagnostic and highly specialized interventional centers, we offer the full range of vascular diseases treatment including:

  • Amputation
  • Carotid Endarterectomy
  • Catheter-Directed Thrombolytic Therapy
  • Diabetic Foot Care
  • Dialysis Access
  • Endovascular Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
  • Endovascular Treatment of an Aortic Dissection
  • Open Surgery Treatment of an Aortic Dissection
  • Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter Line
  • Repair of a Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm
  • Surgical Bypass
  • Thrombolytic Therapy

Information About The Clinic

Why should I come to the clinic?

As general physicians focus mainly on a range of medical conditions. But, vascular specialists focus exclusively on the condition of your vascular system.

What happens in the clinic?

During your visit, HIH well trained physicians will:

  • Assess your vital signs: Heart rate, blood pressure, and Pulses in your feet and groin, and behind your knees
  • Listen with the stethoscope over your carotid arteries in your neck
  • Examine your Heart and lungs
  • Examine your muscles (looking for atrophy in leg muscles(
  • Inspect your skin, looking for color changes related to reduced circulation

Then to help definitive diagnosis your Doctor may order one or more of the following tests:

  • Blood tests, including glucose and cholesterol levels
  • Carotid Duplex Ultrasound
  • Doppler Ankle-Arm Indices
  • MRI/MRA
  • Angiography

How should I prepare for the clinic?

When you schedule your appointment we will ask you to provide important information that will help us evaluate your current condition:

  • Be prepared with the  questions  you  want  to  ask
  • bring a notebook and pen, we encourage you to take notes
  • if this is a follow up visit, you have to  remember  to  write  down  the  changes  you  have  experienced  since  your  last
  • List of medications that you’re allergic to
  • All records that refer in any way to your condition
  • A complete list of your medications
  • All prior medical records, including x-ray films, biopsy reports, lab and/or pathology records
  • Any necessary referrals or prior authorization required by your insurance company.

Scheduling Your Appointment

Patients are generally seen by appointments, however if your situation is urgent, please inform our staff when you call or visit our 24/7 emergency department .our best effort will be made to see you as soon as possible and the specialized dentist will be immediately notified to assess your needs.
When you schedule your appointment we will ask you to provide important information that will help us evaluate your current condition:

  • All records that refer in any way to your condition.
  • A complete list of your medications.
  • All prior medical records, including x-ray films, biopsy, reports, labs and/or pathology records.
  • Any necessary referrals or prior authorization required by your insurance company.

Coordinating your Surgery

Each physician has a designated Surgical Coordinator who will meet with you and organize your entire pre-operative and post-operative surgical care. Your surgical coordinator is your liaison between you and your physician.

Services include:

  • Scheduling surgery
  • Providing educational materials
  • Thorough review of the surgical process and care
  • Coordinate pre-op and post-op clearances and appointments
  • Assistance with insurance referrals and prior authorizations
  • Coordinate home health and physical therapy
  • Coordinate DME Durable Medical Equipment services, such as crutches and cold therapy

Questions & Comments

Our first mission is to give you a satisfactory service. Your satisfaction is our responsibility.
If, after reading this leaflet, you still have any comments or questions, please feel free to ask any of our staff members, the Specialists, nurses or even receptionist in our department. They will do their best to give you more information or arrange an appointment for you with the Consultant or rheumatologist.
We would be happy if you could let us know whether you are satisfied about our care. For this purpose a visitor’s book & evaluation form are available in each unit of our departments. We would like you to write down your comments, experiences and/or suggestions for improvement, so that we can share this with our staff members. This data may help us to improve our service at the department.

The Medical Director /patient & care provider service center can be reached on

01006625687 – 23520003 – 23521002 – 23520008 – 23521006 – 23521007 – 23520040

or via the e-mail address:

patientfeedback@hih.com.eg
complaints@hih.com.eg

Our Mission

Physicians and staff members in the Rheumatology Department in HIH their first and last job is to provide the most updated and comprehensive care available. In addition, our goal is to continue educating patients and their family members to help them gain a solid understanding of all care provided and procedures performed. Visit our Department of Rheumatology with any questions you may have.