Vascular surgery

Vascular surgery involves assessment, diagnosis and treatment of conditions involving the veins and arteries, usually with the aim of restoring normal blood flow. Some conditions can be treated without invasive procedures such as surgery. Vascular surgeons may prescribe preventative measures for patients, such as adopting a healthier lifestyle, including a suitable diet and regular exercise. This, in combination with medication, will often minimise the risk of heart attack or stroke.
 
Where surgery is required, this may be performed by vascular surgeons or interventional radiologists through treatments such as angioplasty (widening of narrow or obstructed arteries) or the insertion of a stent.
 
The West Kent vascular service at Medway Maritime Hospital have set up established one stop clinics and provide major surgery within designated vascular theatres, with the support of a fully efficient intensive care unit (ICU) and surgical high dependency unit (HDU).
 
Conditions treated include:
  • abdominal aortic aneurysms
  • stroke due to carotid artery disease
  • lower limb ischaemia (from peripheral artery disease and varicose veins)
  • intermittent claudication
Our treatment for patients with intermittent claudication (clinical diagnosis given for muscle pain) includes exercise classes and management of lifestyle issues, such as smoking.

Outpatient clinics

We deliver community based clinics for West Kent for the ease and convenience of our patients. These are provided at the following locations:
  • Medway Maritime Hospital
  • Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Hospital
  • Gravesend Community Hospital
  • Sheppey Community Hospital
  • Aylesford Medical Centre
 
For information on clinic times at these locations please telephone each host hospital or organisation directly.

Find us

We provide day case and inpatient vascular surgery Medway Maritime Hospital. The service is supported by an emergency on call service based at the West Kent Vascular Centre on the Medway Maritime Hospital site.
 
Vascular Surgery - Inpatients
Phoenix Ward
Green Zone
Level 3
 
West Kent Vascular Centre
For further information on the West Kent Vascular Centre, please telephone the main hospital switchboard 01634 830000 and ask to be put through to a member of the team.