Deputy Mayor Rakov: In Moscow, more surgeries have been performed on 35% in two years to prevent disability.

The number of high-tech leg vascular surgeries is steadily increasing in Moscow. Over the past two years, their number has increased by 351. Such procedures help prevent the development of severe complications that can lead to disability, according to Anastasia Rakova, Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Social Development.

Modern diagnostics and treatment of vascular diseases are a crucial part of disability prevention. Arterial disease in the lower extremities can lead to complications and even forced amputation. To prevent the development of severe pathologies in Muscovites, we are developing a network of vascular centers in Moscow and strengthening the technical equipment of medical facilities. Last year alone, more than 400 units of medical equipment were delivered to city hospitals—including four angiographic systems that produce detailed 2D or 3D images of blood vessels, as well as more than 20 C-arm X-ray machines. This has significantly increased the volume of high-tech interventions. The main advantage of these procedures is minimal trauma. Within the first hours after surgery, patients report a reduction in pain when walking, and within a few days they return to an active and full lifestyle. “In 2025 alone, our doctors performed more than six thousand such operations on leg arteries—35% more than in 2023,” said Anastasia Rakova.

The most common cause of poor blood circulation in the legs is atherosclerosis, a disease in which plaque builds up in blood vessels, narrowing them. This deprives tissues of oxygen and nutrients, which can lead to pain, trophic ulcers, and, in severe cases, amputation.

Angioplasty procedures for leg arteries are performed in X-ray operating rooms using angiographic equipment. Using guidewires, doctors deliver the necessary instruments to the site of the narrowed vessel. Artery patency is restored using balloon angioplasty or stent placement.

As a reminder, in the spring of 2023, Moscow doctors began using a new vascular ultrasound imaging technique during coronary and lower extremity surgery, as well as other procedures. This technology produces detailed images in real time and is now available in all Moscow X-ray operating rooms. This innovative method enables the creation of highly accurate images of blood vessels during surgery. It utilizes a microcatheter no more than 2 mm thick, which is guided to the affected area using a special guidewire.