Our patient care focuses on the treatment of diseases of the arteries and the veins.
Arteries:
- Peripheral artery disease (PAD): PAD generally refers to atherosclerosis of the leg arteries. The patients usually present with pain while walking (shop window disease) or wounds in the area of the foot (critical limb ischemia). All other areas of arterial flow with the exception of the coronary vessels and the arteries that supply the brain fall along this spectrum. The core responsibility of the Division of Angiology is to explain to these patients why a vascular intervention is necessary and to manage risk factors. We also have an outpatient artery clinic that is open daily. Patients receiving interventions are cared for in our inpatient ward and in special cases in the high-risk outpatient clinic along with the Division of Endocrinology. Vascular rehabilitation takes place in cooperation with the Center for Outpatient Rehabilitation (ZARG) in Graz.
- Outpatient wound care center: For patients who require further care for their wounds, the division also has an outpatient wound clinic with regular hours.
- Vascular inflammatory disease (vasculitis): The division also focuses on vascular inflammatory disease. Patients who suffer primarily from Raynaud's disease (sudden whitening of the fingers) receive outpatient as well as inpatient treatment and the underlying cause is determined.
Veins:
- Venous thrombosis/thromboembolism: A venous thrombosis is a blood clot in the veins (usually in the leg, seldom in the arm). The Division of Angiology provides an evaluation and therapy according to current international recommendations. A correct diagnosis is obtained at our divisional outpatient clinic or from the angiologist at the internal medicine urgent care clinic. Therapy may be administered on an outpatient basis (i.e., the patient is discharged with a medication). In many cases, admission to our inpatient ward is required for further evaluation. Our outpatient anticoagulation clinic is responsible for aftercare and also determines the length of therapy.
- Varicose veins (varices): Varicose veins (or varices) have a wide variety of causes. Our outpatient vein clinic makes a correct evaluation using ultrasound and offers a consultation that outlines all therapeutic procedures currently available. Therapy for varicose veins is especially indicated for limiting symptoms, which may even include poorly healing wounds. For years, our clinic has used laser therapy or in special cases foam sclerotherapy with a local anesthetic. Therapy as well as follow-up visits take place at our vein clinic.
The uniqueness and the added value of our division are the result of the symbiosis between patient care, research and education. The division is jointly operated by the Medical University of Graz and the Styrian Hospital Association (KAGes). This interdisciplinary cooperation between both providers at the University Hospital Graz site is also reflected on our website. More information on patient care can be found at the University Hospital Graz website.
