The Hybrid Endovascular Suite combines endovascular, cardiac surgical, laparoscopic, and radiological capabilities, allowing flexibility and speed in the treatment of patients with the most complex cardiac and vascular conditions.
United Regional is a leader in the treatment of cardiac and vascular diseases. The hybrid endovascular suite allows us the advantage of no longer needing to move the patient to a different operating room to accommodate various heart and vascular procedures or surgeries. The suite combines highly advanced technology and computer systems, with the skill of surgeons and cardiologists, to perform complex cases involving two or more major services.
Our advanced hybrid suite also allows for minimally invasive cardiac surgical procedures because of the high resolution imaging provided by the x-ray system. With its large field of view, surgeons are provided visualization of tiny details to support intricate procedures. Our patients also benefit from lower dose radiation and minimized use of anesthetics. Less invasive procedures also can shorten length of the hospital stay and promote faster recovery.
Surgeries that can be performed in the suite include minimally invasive stents and valve repair, peripheral vascular procedures, vascular angiograms, pacemaker insertion, and open heart surgery.
IVUS Imaging
Advanced technology that is included in the Hybrid Endovascular Suite is IVUS (Intravascular Ultrasound). IVUS is a catheter-based system that allows physicians to obtain images of diseased vessels from inside the arteries and to perform intricate endovascular stent grafting.
With IVUS, a miniature sound probe on the end of the arterial catheter is inserted in the arteries and uses ultrasound to see the plaque area and amount, and the size of the vessel and lumen (the internal opening of the artery) from inside. Because IVUS uses radio waves, the patient is not exposed to additional radiation as with fluoroscopy.
In the endovascular suite, IVUS is used in conjunction with angiography and to determine placement of the stent graphs particularly with respect to vessel size and major side branches such as carotids, subclavian or renal arteries. After placement of the stent, the IVUS allows evaluation of the preciseness of location and proximity of the stent graft to the arterial wall.