Meet Dr. Andrew Kropilak: Vascular Surgeon Serving Knoxville and East Tennessee
Andrew D. Kropilak, MD, RPVI, is a board-certified, fellowship-trained vascular surgeon with Premier Surgical Vascular & Vein Center in Knoxville, Tennessee. He specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the arteries and veins throughout the body, including carotid artery disease, abdominal aortic aneurysms, peripheral arterial disease, limb salvage, venous disorders and dialysis access.
Dr. Kropilak performs both traditional vascular surgery and minimally invasive endovascular procedures, including angioplasty and stenting, abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, carotid artery surgery, endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR), dialysis access procedures and varicose vein treatments.
A Knoxville native, Dr. Kropilak returned home after completing his medical education and surgical training to care for patients throughout East Tennessee. We recently sat down with him to learn more about why he chose vascular surgery, his approach to patient care and what he enjoys most about being back in Knoxville.
Q: What does a vascular surgeon treat?
Dr. Kropilak: I treat diseases involving the blood vessels throughout the body, excluding the heart and brain. That includes conditions such as carotid artery disease involving the blood vessels in the neck, abdominal aortic aneurysms, peripheral arterial disease in the legs, limb-threatening circulation problems, venous disorders and dialysis access.
One of the things that makes vascular surgery unique is the wide variety of conditions we treat and the different ways we can address them.
Q: What made you want to become a surgeon?
Dr. Kropilak: I wanted to go into surgery because I liked the idea of having a direct, hands-on role in patient care and being able to make an immediate impact on a patient’s outcome.
Vascular surgery especially appealed to me because I enjoy the procedures, but I also really enjoy the patients we get to treat. It is very rewarding to see the difference successful treatment can make in someone’s health and quality of life.
Q: Did anyone influence your decision to pursue medicine and surgery?
Dr. Kropilak: My father was a surgeon with Premier Surgical, and he was a great example for me. He helped spark my interest in medicine and surgery and has continued to be an important example throughout my training and early career.
Q: Where did you complete your medical training?
Dr. Kropilak: I attended medical school at the University of Tennessee in Memphis. I then completed my general surgery residency in Jackson, Mississippi, before returning to Knoxville for my vascular surgery fellowship at the University of Tennessee.
Coming back to Knoxville for fellowship gave me the opportunity to continue my training in the community where I grew up.
Q: Are there particular vascular conditions or procedures you especially enjoy treating?
Dr. Kropilak: I really enjoy treating carotid artery disease, both with traditional open surgery and with the minimally invasive TCAR stent procedure.
I also enjoy treating abdominal aortic aneurysms, particularly with endovascular aneurysm repair, or EVAR, as well as treating peripheral vascular disease in the legs with the goal of improving circulation and helping with limb salvage.
Q: What symptoms can indicate peripheral arterial disease in the legs?
Dr. Kropilak: Peripheral arterial disease will often first show up as pain in the legs when walking. That can be an early indication that there is a problem with blood flow through the arteries.
As the disease progresses, some patients can begin to experience pain even when they are resting.
If you think you may have symptoms of peripheral arterial disease, it is important to have them evaluated. In many cases, the earlier we can identify and address the problem, the better the potential outcome.
Q: How would you describe your philosophy of patient care?
Dr. Kropilak: Every patient is unique. Good communication from the beginning is extremely important so that I can understand the patient’s concerns and goals.
From there, I believe in shared decision-making. We work together to develop a treatment plan that is tailored specifically to that individual rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.
My goal is always to determine the best course of action for that particular patient and help them achieve the outcomes that matter most to them.
Q: How important is patient education when treating vascular disease?
Dr. Kropilak: It’s very important because vascular disease can be a systemic issue. If someone has disease in one artery, there may also be disease affecting other arteries in the body.
Part of our responsibility is helping patients understand their risk factors and the things they can do to reduce the chance that vascular disease will progress or return.
We’re often managing much more than the surgical aspect of the condition. We also have to consider the patient’s other medical conditions, risk factors and overall health.
Q: Why did you choose to return to Knoxville?
Dr. Kropilak: I’m from Knoxville, and I’ve always really enjoyed the area and the people here. I wanted the opportunity to come back home and care for people in the community where I grew up.
It’s also simply a great place to live, so I was very happy to have the opportunity to build my career here.
Q: What do you most want your patients to know about you?
Dr. Kropilak: I want my patients to know that I care deeply about developing an individualized care plan for them.
I’m invested in each patient as an individual and in determining the best course of action for their particular situation. I want us to work together toward their goals and make decisions that make sense for them.
Q: What do you enjoy doing when you’re not taking care of patients?
Dr. Kropilak: I really enjoy being outdoors. I like hiking in the Smokies, spending time on the lake and playing golf when I can.
We also enjoy taking our dogs with us on outdoor activities, so being outside is definitely a big part of how I like to spend my free time.
Q: What are you looking forward to as part of Premier Surgical?
Dr. Kropilak: One of the things I’m most excited about is the ability of Premier Surgical to provide the full spectrum of vascular care a patient may need.
Our practice is set up to deliver that care in a patient-centered and efficient way while always making sure the patient comes first. I’m very happy to be part of the practice and to have the opportunity to care for patients in this way.
Meet with Dr. Andrew Kropilak
Dr. Andrew Kropilak sees patients at Premier Surgical Vascular & Vein Center on Papermill Drive in Knoxville and at Premier Vascular in Maryville.
Premier Surgical Vascular & Vein Center
6408 Papermill Drive, Suite 200
Knoxville, TN 37919
Premier Vascular Maryville
603 Smithview Drive
Maryville, TN 37803
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Kropilak or another Premier Vascular & Vein Center provider, call 865-588-8229 or request an appointment online.