×

Vascular Surgery

Advanced Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Services

The Department of Advanced Vascular & Endovascular Surgery at Burjeel Hospital offers comprehensive care and treatment for all diseases affecting the blood vessels as well as vascular diseases and system conditions. Surgeons at Burjeel Hospital perform a full range of vascular and endovascular procedures. With Burjeel’s signature ‘art of healing’, world-class team of experts and state-of- the-art technology, you are assured of the very best treatment & care possible.

  • Vascular Disease

    As we age, our arteries tend to thicken, get stiff, and narrow because of a build-up of plaque and cholesterol. When this occurs in large and medium- sized arteries, it is called atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). When the narrowing happens in arteries leading to the heart, it can cause a heart attack. The same situation in other areas of the body can cause peripheral vascular disease.

  • Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)

    Typically with age, the peripheral arteries build up plaque that narrows the passageways causing them to become stiff. PAD results when the peripheral arteries become too narrow to the legs.

    • One in every 20 over the age of 50 has peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
    • PAD is estimated to affect more than 15% of UAE population above 65 years age group.
    • Individuals with PAD suffer a five- fold increased relative risk of a cardiovascular ischemic event and total mortality that is 2-3 fold greater than those without PAD.

    What are the risk factors?

    • Aging
    • Diabetes
    • Smoking
    • High cholesterol
    • Obesity
    • Lack of exercise
    • Gender - Males are more prone to PAD, but women are at risk as well
    • Family history of vascular problems

    Before the procedure can go ahead, your written consent will be required. You will be given an opportunity to discuss any questions that you may have with the doctor or nurse before the procedure.

    It is advisable to wear loose-fitting clothes for the procedure.

    It will be necessary to remove any false teeth and these will be kept safely for you until after the examination.

    We aim to keep the length of your appointment to a minimum, however, delays occasionally occur due to unforeseen emergencies. It is therefore a good idea to bring something to occupy you such as a book or magazine.

    What are the symptoms?

    There may be no symptoms in the early stages of PAD. Developing symptoms may include discomfort or pain in your legs when walking, with the pain going away when you stop and rest. This could progress to continuous leg pain and tissue loss in the form of Gangrene or non- healing leg ulcer.

    What can I do?

    Consult your doctor if you are at risk.

    • Stop smoking
    • Manage your diabetes
    • Maintain healthy cholesterol levels
    • Eat a healthy diet
    • Exercise

    Consult a vascular surgeon if PAD is diagnosed, or to be tested for PAD in its early stages. Your vascular surgeon will do a Lower Limb Arterial Duplex Scan and/or Angiography and advise you what treatment is best for you. Medical treatment, Peripheral Angioplasty (minimally invasive Endovascular Procedure) or a Bypass Surgery is recommended depending on your condition.


  • Carotid Artery Disease(Stroke)

    Carotid arteries are two main arteries that carry blood from your heart, up through your neck, to your brain. Carotid artery disease results when the carotid arteries become too narrow or obstructed from plaque and limit the blood flow to the brain. Strokesresult either from obstruction of blood flow to the brain by the plaque or when bits of plaque and clots break off from the plaque and flow to the brain.

    Carotid Artery Disease (Stroke)

    • Stroke remains the third leading cause of death with nearly 157,000 people dying annually.
    • A large proportion of strokes are caused by plaque in the carotid arteries.
    • It is estimated that stroke-related medical costs and disability runs into billions of dollars each year.

    What are the causes and risk factors?

    • Age
    • High blood pressure
    • Diabetes
    • Smoking
    • High cholesterol
    • Obesity
    • Lack of exercise
    • Irregular heartbeat
    • Family history of Atherosclerosis
    • (hardening of the arteries) and/or stroke

  • Mini-strokes

    Mini-strokes (or transient ischemic attacks “TIAs”) are usually temporary lasting a few minutes to a few hours, and should be treated as serious medical emergencies requiring immediate treatment. Some symptoms include:

    • Weakness, numbness or tingling on one side of the body
    • Inability to control the movement of a body part
    • Loss of vision or blurred vision in one or both eyes
    • Inability to speak clearly
    • Difficulty talking or comprehending what others are saying

    Following the dilatation treatment, there is a small risk (occurring in less than one in 100 patients) that a 'hole' (perforation) may occur at the site of dilatation. If this problem arises you will need to stay in hospital for observation. An operation may be needed to seal the perforation.

    Other rare complications include reactions to the sedative drugs given and at times, chest infections (pneumonia) can occur after the procedure. In all these cases, the appropriate treatment will be given.

    What can you do?

    • See your doctor if you are at risk or if you experienced a mini stroke
    • Maintain normal blood pressure levels
    • Stop smoking
    • Control cholesterol levels
    • Maintain a healthy weight
    • Exercise
    • See a vascular surgeon if Carotid Artery Disease is diagnosed Your Vascular

    Surgeon will do a Carotid Arterial Duplex Scan and or Angiography and advise you what treatment is best for you. Carotid Endarterectomy Surgery or a Carotid Stenting (Endovascular Procedure) is recommended depending on your condition and suitability.

  • Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm(AAA)

    Your aorta is the largest artery in your body. An AAA occurs when the wall of the aorta progressively weakens and begins to bulge. It may continue to enlarge and eventually rupture if left untreated causing severe internal bleeding and death.

    Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)

    • More than 15,000 people die each year from rupture of an aortic aneurysm
    • Nearly 200,000 people are diagnosed with AAA annually
    • It is estimated that more than one million people are living with undiagnosed AAA and at least 95 percent of these can be successfully treated if detected prior to rupture

    Who is at risk?

    • People with a history of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
    • Those with a family history of AAA
    • Those who smoke
    • Patients with high blood pressure
    • Chronic lung disease

    What are the symptoms?

    • A pulsing feeling in the abdomen
    • Unexplained, severe pain in your abdomen or lower back
    • Pain, discoloration, or sores on your feet (this is a rare symptom) bleeding and death.

    What can you do?

    • See your doctor if you are at risk
    • Stop smoking
    • Maintain normal blood pressure levels
    • See a vascular surgeon to be tested to see if you have an AAA
    • See a vascular surgeon if your doctor diagnoses an AAA

    Your vascular surgeon will do an Abdominal Ultrasound Scan and or CT Angiography and advise you what treatment is best for you. Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (Endovascular Procedure) or Open Aneurysm Surgery is recommended depending on your condition and suitability.

  • Current Therapy:

    Open Surgical Repair AAA - Aneurysm opened, graft sewn in, aorta wrapped and closed around graft

    • Established procedure (>40 years)
    • Excludes aneurysm and prevents sac growth
    • Proven, long-term results
    • Considered the “gold standard” Operative mortality 1% to 5% (elective repair)
  • Documented Benefits of Endovascular Repair of Aneurysms
    • Shorter hospital stay
    • Less blood loss during operation
    • Fewer postoperative complications involving respiratory system and heart
    • Less patient discomfort
    • Shorter recovery time
  • Venous Surgery - Endo Venous Ablation Treatment of Varicose Veins

    Varicose veins are a known cause of severe physical and psychological discomfort. The superficial veins stretch and bulge under the skin and create pronounced, bumpy "cords" on the legs. They are more common in women and in people who sit or stand in the same position for long periods of time. Endovenous Ablation Treatment EVAT in conjunction with sclerotherapy can treat varicose veins quite effectively in up to 97% afflicted patients. This is a minimally invasive procedure under local anesthesia, doesn’t involve any cuts and is virtually painless allowing return to normal active life immediately after the procedure.

The reputation of a hospital is built on the quality of medical care provided. Hence, stringent standards are in place to recruit world-class medical professionals. Our panel of highly qualified doctors have trained extensively in leading hospitals around the world and possess internationally recognized degrees from Europe, USA and other continents. Combined with state-of-the-art technology, the team delivers exemplary care and treatment following the highest international standards and protocols.

Dr. Bassel Safi

Consultant – Vascular Surgery

View Profile

languages known

EN AR
Book an Appointment

Dr. Ali Keivanjah

Consultant - Vascular and Endovascular Surgery