The Blank Vascular Center

The Blank Vascular Center at Abington Memorial Hospital is an outpatient facility committed to providing quality diagnosis, management, treatment and education for patients with vascular conditions. Our staff includes board-certified surgeons and interventional radiologists, a nurse practitioner and dedicated nurses and technologists.

Treatment by Specialists

For many vascular conditions, interventional radiologists and surgeons are able to treat patients with minimally invasive procedures, using small catheters or other devices. Compared to conventional surgery, these procedures often result in fewer complications, less time spent in the hospital and speedier recoveries.

Interventional radiologists are board-certified doctors who specialize in minimally invasive, targeted treatments they perform while using imaging for guidance. They have expertise in reading X-rays and using ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and other diagnostic imaging equipment to guide tiny instruments, such as catheters, through blood vessels or through the skin to treat diseases without surgery.

When such treatment is not possible, surgery performed by the center's vascular surgeons may be necessary.

On-Site Convenience

For convenience, the center includes an onsite vascular laboratory, which - after an initial visit - allows patients to conveniently schedule testing and visiting their physician on the same day, insurance permitting.

The laboratory is accredited by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories (ICAVL). The laboratory's trained technologists use state-of-the-art, non-invasive procedures to detect various vascular conditions.

Comprehensive Care

The center offers comprehensive care for the following vascular conditions:

Peripheral Artery Disease is a decrease in blood flow to the muscles of the leg and foot due to narrowing of the blood vessels. This causes intermittent claudication (pain in the legs during exercise that is relieved with rest).

Carotid Artery Disease involves blockages in the arteries in the neck that provide blood flow to the brain. If not treated, there is an increase risk of stroke.
Aneurysms are a weakness in the walls of arteries particularly those in the legs and abdomen. They require further evaluation by a vascular surgeon and possible surgical repair.

Venous Disease involves a number of vein abnormalities that include varicose veins, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and chronic venous insufficiency - conditions that can cause pain and swelling and, in the case of DVT, lead to serious health situations. These conditions can be treated medically and, in the case of varicose veins minimally invasive surgery.

Lymphedema is a build up of lymph fluid that causes swelling and can impede healing. Medical interventions and physical therapy may be required.
The center also works with kidney patients to develop an access - a way to easily circulate the blood - during hemodialysis. Getting access surgery early in kidney failure may avoid long term access complications.

Abington Memorial Hospital's accreditation by the Joint Commission on Health Care Organizations, as well as the accreditation of our vascular laboratory program by the ICAVL, assures patients that our Blank Vascular Center meets the highest national standards for diagnosis and treatment of vascular conditions.