Athens Medical: Holistic Treatment of Vascular Diseases in the Hybrid Surgery Center
- What is “hybrid surgery” and what difference does it make?
As a concept, hybrid surgery has existed for many years and emerged from the need to create a space that combines the fully sterile environment of a conventional operating room, with the diagnostic capabilities and minimally invasive procedures of a hemodynamic laboratory. In essence, hybrid surgery allows us to perform complex surgeries, whether they involve the aorta, the carotids or a diabetic foot, minimally invasively but also with open surgery, if necessary. Over the years, the idea of hybrid surgery has evolved significantly and now we can talk about “holistic vascular care” of patients, what they call abroad “Total Vascular Care”. This became possible with the addition of the advanced Discovery IGS 7* system to the Athens Medical Center.
- What does this mean in practice? What are the advantages of hybrid surgery?
The possibilities that technology offers us today are truly impressive both in diagnosing a problem and in its restoration. Thanks to an sophisticated Artificial Intelligence program, we are guided through the patient’s vessels, in the same way that an application like Google Maps leads us to our destination! In other words, we do a type of mapping that allows us not to waste too much time locating the target vessel or any problem, while at the same time, avoiding the very high dose of radiation, as well as the use of contrast agent, which is toxic to the kidneys.
In the same context, we have the ability to print the vessel (e.g. the aorta) in a three-dimensional copy (3D Printing). This allows us to plan and perform the operation first on this three-dimensional model and then on the patient.
Particularly important, however, is the ability to perform a CT angiography during the operation. This means that even before we remove the surgical instruments from the patient and wake them up, we are able to know if the operation has gone well. In this way, we ensure that there will be no complications and the patient will not need to undergo surgery again. This quality control of the operating room is unique!
- What types of procedures are performed in the hybrid operating room?
We treat the entire spectrum of vascular diseases from the carotid artery and aorta to the vessels in the little toes. For example, we perform stent implantation in the carotid artery, angioplasty of the visceral branches, endovascular repair of complex aortic diseases (e.g. aneurysms or occlusions), endovascular or hybrid artery repair in patients with peripheral arterial disease or diabetic foot, as well as incisionless creation of arteriovenous communication for hemodialysis patients. We also treat acute and chronic deep vein thrombosis, as well as pulmonary embolism, endovascularly.
- How many specialties does hybrid surgery serve?
Hybrid surgery focuses mainly on cardiovascular interventions. Therefore, it is mainly utilized by vascular surgeons, cardiac surgeons, cardiologists and neuroradiologists. However, there have been some cases of interdisciplinary collaboration between vascular surgeons and general surgeons, as well as the participation of thoracic surgeons and pulmonologists.
Author
