Vascular Surgery

Chris Kitchen, MD, a fellowship trained vascular surgeon performs advanced vascular procedures in the hospital's new hybrid operating room.

Vascular surgery is a specialty that manages diseases of the blood vessels through medical therapy, minimally invasive endovascular procedures and surgical reconstruction.

From varicose veins to aortic aneurysms, patients with all types of vascular conditions can count on advanced care, state-of-the-art technology and leading-edge treatments at Cabell Huntington Hospital.

"The field of vascular surgery has advanced greatly in recent years," Dr. Kitchen said. "Procedures that were previously performed as open surgery are now able to be performed using endovascular techniques, or they're performed as a hybrid of open and endovascular surgery. These advancements in technology and surgical techniques have really revolutionized how we treat vascular disease."

Dr. Kitchen diagnoses and treats a wide range of vascular diseases and disorders, including abdominal aortic aneurysm, carotid artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, deep vein thrombosis and chronic venous insufficiency. For patients with varicose veins, Dr. Kitchen offers endoluminal laser ablation, a minimally invasive treatment that provides immediate relief and requires little to no downtime afterward. He also performs the placement of dialysis shunts for patients needing hemodialysis.

For these procedures and more, the hybrid operating room at CHH offers the latest innovations in vascular care. The room accommodates a full range of endovascular procedures and ensures that both open and endovascular surgeries are performed efficiently, thoroughly and accurately.

"When a patient has a ruptured aortic aneurysm, every second matters," said Dr. Kitchen, whose interest in vascular care began when he lost his own grandfather to a ruptured aortic aneurysm. "In the hybrid operating room, everything we need is readily available. We have the tools to stop hemorrhages quickly and the advanced imaging equipment to get a clear picture of the problem. We can determine the best treatment option and proceed instantly. And because the room is a vascular lab as well as a fully equipped surgical suite, we can immediately convert from an endovascular procedure to an open surgical procedure if needed."

The imaging capabilities of the hybrid operating room are used before, during and after a wide range of procedures. Angiography, an imaging technique that uses a special dye and camera to help visualize blood flow in arteries and veins, allows Dr. Kitchen and the vascular surgery team to identify problems before beginning a procedure, adjust the treatment strategy during a procedure if necessary and, once the procedure is complete, assess the results.

"After a vascular procedure, we use what's called a completion angiogram to make sure blood is flowing the way that we want it to flow," Dr. Kitchen said. "We can identify and fix problems while the patient is still on the operating table, preventing additional surgeries."

From mild discomfort in the legs to life-threatening vascular diseases, the state-of-the-art technology and highly skilled vascular team at Cabell Huntington Hospital are getting patients back on their feet.

For more information about vascular surgery at CHH, please call 304.691.1200.