About this service
Aintree’s Vascular and Endovascular department otherwise known as LiVES (Liverpool Vascular & Endovascular Service) provides comprehensive care to patients with blood vessel disorders (diseases of the arteries, veins and lymphatics) in Merseyside and beyond, as well as vascular access for kidney patients.
LiVES is one of the largest vascular services in the country and currently operates in Aintree University Hospital as well as the Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen Hospital, Southport & Ormskirk Hospisal and St. Helen & Knowsley Hospital.
The service is delivered by a team of highly skilled and experienced consultants who provide a comprehensive outpatient and day case service. Please note that all inpatient care (treatment requiring overnight stay in hospital) takes place at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
Patients are treated by large specialist teams including doctors from other disciplines such as Interventional Radiology, Nephrology, Stroke Medicine, Neurology, Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Endocrinology, Anaesthesia and Cardiology.
As a principle, all cases considered for major surgery are discussed at multidisciplinary meetings, to ensure that the best possible management is offered to our patients.
Treatments and services offered at the Vascular department include:
- A one-stop diagnostic service (specialist investigations performed at the same time of the clinic consultation)
- A leg ulcer service
- Diabetic foot service, with multidisciplinary clinics
- Daily Rapid Referral Stroke Clinics, run by the Stroke Physicians with one-stop diagnostic facilities, for urgent assessment and outpatient treatment of cerebrovascular disease (stroke, transient ischaemic attacks, amaurosis fugax)
- Diagnostic tests and interventions on peripheral vascular disease (i.e.: Angiography/Angioplasty, Duplex Ultrasound, CT and MR angiography)
- Surveillance of small aortic aneurysms
- Assessment and treatment (by surgery or endovascular means) of large aortic aneurysms
- Vascular access service to patients who require haemodyalisis
- Minimally invasive treatment of complicated varicose veins and other venous disorders
- Assessment and treatment of thoracic outlet syndrome (arm nerve or vessel compression at the thoracic outlet)
The Team
The vascular surgical consultants work as part of a multi-disciplinary team alongside other specialist doctors, nurses and technologists.
Specialist nurses assist with the running of the department, offering experience in management of the vascular patient, follow-up and rehabilitation, which contributes to a holistic approach in treatment of vascular conditions.
Referral Information
Referrals are made via GP, other hospital departments (including Accident & Emergency) or, for complex cases, via another Trust.