Our expert vascular surgeons, theatre and nursing staff provide the best vascular care available using state-of the-art facilities. These include a dedicated vascular ward, vascular theatre and an endovascular suite, which offers less invasive surgery.
Endovascular Suite
Russells Hall Hospital uses a state-of-the-art endovascular (EVAR) suite capable of performing advanced surgery for potentially fatal aortic aneurysms. The £1.5m combined angiography and operating theatre suite features a Siemens Artis Zee ceiling mounted system that offers vascular surgeons high speed, high resolution 3D images of blood vessels and gives patients lower doses of radiation.
The suite is also fully integrated with the hospital’s radiology display system which allows doctors to import cross sectional images into the intervention suite while they are operating on patients. This suite is also much safer for patients. Doctors can diagnose bleeds that can occur from a wide range of causes such as ulcers, tumours and fibroids. It can also detect small leaks during and after endovascular aneurysm repair, which helps reduce complications further.
As Russells Hall Hospital is a specialist centre for vascular surgery across Dudley, Walsall and Wolverhampton, the EVAR suite is a very important facility. It provides treatment and surgery for people diagnosed with abdominal aortic aneurysms and other arterial circulation problems.
Dedicated Vascular Theatre
We have daily vascular operating lists for both elective and emergency vascular surgery. We have a team of specialised vascular theatre practitioners including anaesthetists.
Vascular Ward
We have daily vascular operating lists for both elective and emergency vascular surgery. We have a team of specialised vascular theatre practitioners including anaesthetists.
Our Vascular Lab
We have specialised diagnostic vascular laboratories for the assessment of a wide range of arterial and vascular conditions at both Russells Hall and New Cross hospitals. These include assessment of;
- Abdominal aorta
- Carotid arteries
- Upper and lower limb veins and arteries
- Fistulas
- Post-operative graft surveillance
The specialised sonographers work closely with the vascular team.
Our Specialist Care Units
Intensive Therapy Unit/Surgical High Dependency Unit
Following major vascular surgery, some patients may be nursed in one of our intensive care units for close monitoring post operatively.
Vascular Specialist Care Unit
This is a four bed area within B3 ward. Some patients are nursed in this area for a short post-operative period according to their surgical dependency needs.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screening
AAA screening is a simple ultrasound test free of charge to all men in the year they turn 65.
Screening is offered to detect dangerous swellings of the aorta, the primary blood vessel connecting the heart to the rest of the body. AAAs are most common in men over 65. Aneurysms can happen in any blood vessel, but one of the more common sites is the abdominal aorta. When an AAA occurs, the walls of the artery weaken, causing the blood vessel to expand and balloon out. If expansion continues, the artery walls continue to weaken and may eventually rupture.
A rupture is extremely dangerous. Around 8 out of 10 people who suffer a ruptured AAA will die before they get to hospital or during surgery.
An AAA generally causes no symptoms. This means that you cannot tell if you have one, as you will not feel any pain or notice anything different. With screening, an AAA can be detected before it ruptures.
The NHS offers screening in order to find aneurysms early so they can be checked regularly or treated if needed. The easiest way to find out if you have an aneurysm is to have an ultrasound scan of your abdomen.
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