Vascular Center

The Vascular Center is a group of three vascular departments (vascular surgery, thoracic surgery, and cardiology), to provide top-class diagnosis and treatment to patients with vascular diseases. SMC’s Vascular Center is made up of professional and experienced medical staffs who are dedicated to provide appropriate treatment for patients suffering from vascular diseases. The Vascular Center collaborates with various other centers within the Heart Vascular Stroke Institute to provide the most effective treatment for systemic vascular diseases.

Major areas of treatment

The Vascular Center specializes in all vascular diseases (diseases of aorta, veins, or lymphatic vessels), except coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular disease.

1. Arterial diseases

  • arterial occlusion
  • thoracic/abdominal aortic aneurysm/dissection
  • carotid artery stenosis
  • diabetic foot
  • Buerger's disease

2. Vein diseases

  • varicose veins
  • deep vein thrombosis
  • pulmonary embolism

3. Other vascular diseases

  • vasculitis
  • angiogenesis
  • congenital vascular malformation
  • lymphedema

Clinics

Congenital Vascular Malformation Clinic

Strengths

  • Mainatins a 24-hour aorta team for patients with acute aortic diseases such as ruptured aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection
  • Runs the nation’s largest vascular imaging facilities
  • Applies hybrid surgical techniques to patients with vascular diseases with complex lesions
  • Runs a world-renowned vascular malformation clinic
  • Runs a Marfan clinic where we diagnose and treat 40% of the Marfan syndrome patients in Korea

Diagnostic tests

Noninvasive vascular imaging tests including vascular ultrasonography, Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and invasive angiography

Latest treatment methods

  • Surgery: Aortic replacement surgery, vascular bypass grafting, carotid endarterectomy
  • Procedures: Percutaneous angioplasty, stent insertion, stent-graft insertion, sclerotherapy/embolization for vascular malformations, laser treatment for varicose veins
  • Medications: Management of risk factors for atherosclerosis, anticoagulation, thrombolytic agents

Other

The vascular laboratory is staffed with personnel certified by the American Society of Vascular Ultrasound Radiologic Technologists, so we pride ourselves on the quality and accuracy of our vascular ultrasound diagnosis and services. Our nurse practitioners provide counseling services for vascular patients, adjust their treatment schedule, and support the Vascular Center’s QA activities, treatment, and research.