February 14, 2003

New endovascular surgery suite unveiled

Feb. 10 marked the unveiling of a long-awaited new endovascular surgery suite in the operating room that offers integrated surgical and radiological capabilities. This state-of-the-art facility will help accommodate the expansion of MGH Vascular Surgery from the full spectrum of conventional surgery to more widely used minimally invasive methods, known as endovascular surgery. Now called the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, the staff members of the area see patients with a variety of vascular problems that include poor circulation from blockages or narrowing of arteries and other conditions that lead to strokes and aneurysms.

Development of the new suite began more than two years ago and stemmed from the hospital's stent graft program to treat aortic aneurysms. The first such implant occurred in 1994. Because the procedure was guided by X-ray imaging, portable radiography equipment had to be wheeled in and out of the original surgical suite.

According to Richard P. Cambria, MD, chief of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, the MGH has been a leader in this type of procedure, performing more than 650 cases in seven years. "The operating room we were using was designed for conventional surgery," he says. "Using the portable equipment was the poor man's way of making it work, but we needed a facility that would utilize the latest technologies to increase our efficiency, and the hospital agreed."

Endovascular Surgery staff in the new suite

The new suite, which has a separate control room for X-ray and other imaging capabilities, will allow surgical staff to perform a wide array of procedures and should significantly increase the division's patient volume from the current 1,400 cases per year.

"We are most appreciative of the hospital devoting resources to this new suite," says Cambria. "It allows us to continue our tradition of performing the best quality vascular surgery."