Hybrid operating theatre: a revolution in treating complex vascular disease
What is a hybrid operating room and how does it help patients who need surgery for vascular conditions? Why is it considered a revolution in vascular surgery and what are its advantages?
Dr Theodosios Bisdas, Director of the 3rd Department of Vascular Surgery at Athens Medical Centre and Associate Professor of Vascular Surgery at Universitätsklinikum Münster, explains the concept and advantages of the hybrid operating theatre and how highly specialised procedures for complex vascular disease are performed within this environment.
Read everything you need to know in the article that follows.
What is a hybrid operating room?
It is an operating theatre that combines full surgical equipment with a high-resolution angiography system. Open and endovascular techniques can therefore be applied in the same procedure, without the patient having to be moved. See in detail the page on the hybrid operating room.
What is the advantage for the patient?
Greater accuracy, less radiation and contrast medium, smaller incisions and faster recovery. In an emergency, such as bleeding or rupture of a vessel, the team can move immediately to an open procedure without losing time.
Conditions Treated with Endovascular Surgery
Mainly in aortic aneurysms, in the peripheral arterial disease, in diabetic foot and in complex cases where a combination of techniques is required.
Where is it?
The Athens Medical Center operates an IGS7 hybrid operating room (GE Healthcare), where Prof. Theodosios Bisdas directs the 3rd Vascular Surgery Department. See the pioneering procedures that have been performed there.
What does an "endovascular" procedure mean?
Access is gained with a simple puncture of the vessel, typically 2 to 8 millimetres, without a surgical incision. Most such procedures are performed under local anaesthesia and the patient is mobilised on the same or the next day. See Endovascular Surgery.
How is the patient prepared?
Before every procedure a full imaging assessment is carried out, usually CT angiography, so that the anatomy can be mapped and the strategy planned. The planning is done individually and is discussed with the patient before the day of surgery. See how the visit to the clinic.
