UC Davis Vascular Surgery

01/10/2026

UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, CA is among the first to use the SEISMIQ™ Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL) System for the treatment of calcified lesions in the peripheral vasculature

UC Davis Medical Center is one of the first hospitals in the country to adopt the SEISMIQ™ Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL) system from Boston Scientific, a therapy that supports physicians in treating patients with complex calcified peripheral artery disease (PAD).

“The ability to selectively activate emitters was a real differentiator- it allowed for preservation of pulses and gave the ability to precisely target areas of severe concentric and eccentric calcium. Post-procedure IVUS demonstrated notable calcium modification and meaningful luminal gain, confirming the efficiency and performance of the new therapy.”

Dr. Misty Humphries
M.D., M.A.S.
Chief, Division of Vascular Surgery
Director, UC Davis Vascular Center/ UC Davis Wound Care Center

The SEISMIQ IVL system is a next-generation technology that uses laser-generated acoustic pressure waves to fracture hardened calcium within the wall of the artery. By breaking up the calcium, the SEISMIQ IVL system helps prepare the vessel for further treatment, such as balloon angioplasty or stent placement. These challenges are especially significant in patients with advanced PAD, where restoring blood flow to the lower limbs is essential for wound healing and limb preservation. The SEISMIQ IVL system is designed to modify both superficial and deep calcium, improving vessel function and enabling physicians to perform more predictable procedures without damaging soft tissue.

PAD is a common circulatory condition in which narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the limbs, most often in the legs. In many advanced cases, plaque buildup in the arteries becomes calcified, making the arteries stiff and harder to treat with traditional tools. These hardened calcium deposits can prevent balloons or stents from expanding properly, making procedures less effective and more difficult to perform.

11/20/2025

We were honored to host Dr. Ana Maria Botero as this year's Pevec Lectureship speaker. She delivered an inspiring and impactful presentation reflecting on her journey as a vascular surgeon and the lessons that have shaped her career.

Her expertise, resilience, and global perspective underscored the innovation and ingenuity driving the future of vascular surgery.

05/15/2025

We have officially ushered in the Aortic Club of Sacramento with our first inaugural meeting at UC Davis Health! We had surgeons as far north as Redding and as far east as Reno in attendance.

This quarterly event gives vascular and cardiac surgeons in the area, the opportunity to connect and discuss various topics with the latest data in their specialty. This week's session was on Type 1A Endoleak Management.

Our next meeting is tentatively scheduled for August 5, 2025 at UCDH.

05/15/2025

With PTAB, we are able to offer our patients with complex forms of PAD, a minimally invasive treatment option that is clinically proven and effective.

Vascular surgeons completed their first percutaneous transmural arterial bypass therapy using the DETOUR System, becoming the first in Sacramento to perform this minimally invasive treatment.

02/14/2025

Excited to celebrate this milestone and the great work our team is doing for patients with carotid artery disease!

We're proud to be the first hospital in the Sacramento region to perform 200 transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR) procedures!

TCAR is a minimally invasive option that clears plaque and helps prevent patients from having a stroke.

“We are proud to offer this minimally invasive procedure as part of our commitment to improving patient outcomes and streamlining care at UC Davis Health. Our vascular surgery team is among the best and most comprehensive in the nation. Our mission of providing complete, efficient and high-quality care to the patients we care for drives us to lead the field," said Misty D. Humphries, the UC Davis Health interim chief of vascular surgery.

Learn more about the TCAR procedure and our vascular surgery team: https://health.ucdavis.edu/news/headlines/minimally-invasive-procedure-reduces-stroke-risk/2025/02

11/20/2024

We had the pleasure of having Dr. Melissa Kirkwood from UTSW Medical Center as our speaker at this year's William C. Pevec Lectureship. She gave a great talk on radiation safety for vascular interventionalists.

07/29/2023

Congratulations 🎈🍾🎊🎉 .md and !!! Excellent work trying to prevent graft stenosis in vascular patients….

06/23/2023

Excited for our interns to start next week!

06/18/2023

There is nothing better than celebrating together as a team and family! So proud of our graduates…excited to welcome the new year, and realizing the world is our oyster!!!

06/13/2023

Congratulations to Dr. Steven Maximus who received this year's Outstanding Vascular Surgery Faculty Award and Dr. Joel Harding who received the Outstanding Vascular Surgery Resident Award!

05/18/2023

Great presentation by Dr. Maximus on and at the Stroke Awareness Month Lunch & Learn.

04/12/2023

Congratulations to our resident for winning the Best Basic Science Research Award at the Resident Research Symposium for his work on the effect LXW7 coating on short term vascular graft patency.