Worried About Vascular Disease?

When your physician talks to you about circulatory diseases of the arteries, veins and the lymphatic system, it can sound complicated and frightening. Terms like arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis may seem overwhelming.

Stella Asuquo, MD, is a vascular surgeon with Washington Township Medical Foundation who will attempt to demystify these and other circulatory conditions while explaining new treatment options at a Health & Wellness seminar on Wednesday, Oct. 23. “Treating Carotid and Aortic Disease Through Endovascular Innovation” will launch at 9 a.m. on the Washington Hospital Facebook and YouTube pages.

According to Dr. Asuquo, patients with circulatory disease can present with mild, acute or chronic pain. Because the range of possible circulatory diseases is wide, treatments vary widely as well. If surgery is indicated, these diseases may be managed in a minimally invasive manner.

The advantage of minimally invasive procedures includes shorter hospital stays and quicker recovery times. This seminar will be useful for anyone concerned about their cardiovascular health. Viewers will learn the risk factors for circulatory diseases and when intervention may be necessary. Risk factors include smoking, diabetes, hypertension, and several others that Dr. Asuquo will review.

An example of one the new surgical techniques which Dr. Asuquo performs is TCAR. Transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR) is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to treat plaque in the carotid artery. It can reduce the risk of a stroke dramatically when there is a buildup of plaque in the arteries. Dr. Asuquo will discuss this and several other new techniques that can significantly improve surgical outcomes.

Dr. Asuquo chose vascular surgery because of the diverse nature of the specialty and the long-term relationships she gets to build with her patients. She said, “In vascular surgery, we are treating patients from head to toe. Each new case poses interesting challenges. The continuing cerebral aspects of the work coupled with my long-lasting relationships with patients make my work enjoyable and fulfilling every day. I have a passion for vascular surgery and I am delighted to share what I know with the community.”

Vascular surgery continues to advance with more minimally invasive options for patients with carotid and aortic disease. These innovative procedures treat and prevent stroke and aortic rupture. Join this seminar for an in-depth look at these fascinating techniques.

To watch this presentation on Facebook, sign in to your account, then go to Facebook.com/WashingtonHosp. Or you can watch it without an account at YouTube.com/whhsInHealth. If you cannot watch it live, the seminar will be available beginning the next day on the Hospital’s YouTube channel.

For more information about Dr. Asuquo and Washington Hospital’s vascular surgery program, visit www.whhs.com/services/cardiac-services/vascular-surgery/