Vascular services are for people with disorders of the arteries and veins. These include narrowing or widening of arteries, blocked vessels and varicose veins, but not diseases of the heart.
These disorders can reduce the amount of blood reaching the limbs or brain, or cause sudden blood loss if an over-stretched artery bursts.
Although all of these diseases used to be treated by surgery only, more recently, specialists have been able to treat many vascular disorders by reaching the site of the problem via the inside of the blood vessels. This is known as endovascular surgery, and is a much less invasive approach.
Liverpool Vascular and Endovascular Service (LiVES) provides comprehensive care to patients with blood vessel disorders (diseases of the arteries, veins and lymphatics) in Merseyside, the North West and beyond.
Our LiVES Vascular service is delivered by a team of highly skilled and experienced consultants.
LiVES is one of the largest vascular services in the country and currently operates at Aintree University Hospital.
Our team also supports vascular clinics, day case surgery and inpatient ward reviews at our spoke sites; Royal Liverpool University Hospital and Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (Southport and Whiston Hospitals).
We also support the Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
The Major Arterial Centre based at Aintree University Hospital provides 24 hours a day, seven day a week service for vascular surgery and interventional radiology. We have a 32 bedded vascular ward (Ward 3) at Aintree University Hospital with three dedicated operating theatres (including two hybrid operating theatres) available to the vascular service.
More information
Referrals are made via your General Practitioner (GP), other hospital departments (including Emergency Department) or, for complex cases, via another hospital Trust’s consultant.
All emergency referrals and inpatient care (treatment requiring overnight stay in hospital) takes place centrally at Aintree University Hospital.
Routine outpatient appointments and follow up appointments still take place at your local hospital site.
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Aintree University Hospital
Address: Aintree University Hospital
Lower Lane
Fazakerley
Liverpool
L9 7ALFor maps and other information visit our Getting Here page for Aintree University Hospital
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Royal Liverpool University Hospital
Address: Royal Liverpool University Hospital
Prescot Street
Liverpool
Merseyside
L7 8XPFor maps and other information visit our Getting Here page for Royal Liverpool University Hospital
Aintree University Hospital, Outpatients Department, Clinic E
Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Outpatients Department
Whiston Hospital (community location)
Outpatients Department Yellow Zone
Warrington Road
Prescot
Merseyside
L35 5DR
Southport Hospital (community location)
Outpatients Department
Town Lane
Southport
Merseyside
PR8 6PN
- A one-stop diagnostic service (specialist investigations performed at the same time of the clinic consultation)
- 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
- A leg ulcer service
- Minimally invasive treatment of complicated varicose veins and other venous disorders
- Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA): This is a condition in which the main artery in the abdomen becomes stretched and prone to bursting. Timely detection and treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms prevents later problems with rupture and bleeding, and can be life-saving.
- After a stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIAs or mini-strokes): Sometimes, there are problems with the blood supply to the brain because of a narrowing in a blood vessel in the neck called the carotid artery. This can be treated with an operation to improve the flow of blood and reduce the risk of future strokes.
- Poor blood supply to the feet and legs: Some people, particularly those who smoke or have diabetes, can develop narrowings in the blood supply to their legs and feet. This can cause pain on walking, ulceration and/or infection. Surgical or endovascular treatments can improve the blood supply, make walking easier and prevent the serious complications of an inadequate blood supply
After surgery you may need to be transferred to the Critical Care Unit. This will be discussed with you before your procedure.
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a research active trust, supporting and facilitating new innovative ways of providing healthcare to improve patient experience and outcomes. To find out about current research opportunities or register for future studies, please visit the Vascular Research page.