Vascular Care at Mass General Brigham Healthcare Center (Wal

Overview

Much like the Fireman Vascular Center in downtown Boston, the Fireman Vascular Center at Mass General Brigham Healthcare Center (Waltham) offers comprehensive evaluation by recognized specialists for the full spectrum of vascular conditions as well as minimally invasive treatment for varicose veins. In addition, the outpatient location includes an ICAVL-accredited vascular diagnostic laboratory for clinical non-invasive vascular studies.

Conditions We Treat

Our specialists treat the following conditions:

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm
• Carotid artery disease
• Cholesterol in the blood
• Chronic venous insufficiency
• Claudication
• Deep-vein thrombosis
• Diabetes Mellitus
• DVT/thrombophlebitis
• Fibromuscular dysplasia
• Hyperlipidemia
• Intracranial vascular disease
• Leg ulcerations
• Limb edema
• Lymphedema
• Pulmonary embolism
• Raynaud’s phenomenon
• Renal artery stenosis
• Renovascular disease
• Thoracic aortic aneurysm
• Varicose veins

Diagnostic Tests

Our team includes experts in diagnostic imaging who are specially trained to detect abnormalities in the vascular system and whose practice focuses specifically on vascular disease. These vascular imaging specialists are board certified in vascular medicine, vascular surgery, or general radiology and are fellowship trained with additional specialization in vascular procedures.

Depending on the patient, we may use one or more diagnostic techniques, including:

• Transcranial ultrasound
• Ankle brachial index (ABI)
• Duplex ultrasound
• Pulse volume recording
• Treadmill testing
• Computed tomography (CT)
• CT angiography (CTA)
• Magnetic resonance imaging(MR)
• Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA)

Minimally Invasive Services

Minimally invasive treatments generally offer patients shorter recovery times and smaller scars than traditional open surgical procedures. For patients with varicose veins, we specialize in a number of minimally invasive treatment options, including:

• Sclerotherapy. In this technique, a chemical is injected into the affected veins to harden them so they can no longer fill with blood
• Radiofrequency ablation (RFA). This therapy uses heat delivered through a catheter to treat varicose veins. Our physicians were among the first in Boston to perform an endovenous (via the veins) radiofrequency ablation
• Endovenous laser therapy (EVLT). In this approach, lasers are used to treat affected veins in a similar manner to radiofrequency ablation (RFA)

Our physicians also fit patients with compression stockings, which squeeze varicose veins from flowing backward and offer support to the leg’s veins.