Norfolk, VA – Thursday, May 10 at 3:00 p.m. EDT accomplished vascular surgeons demonstrated the safety and efficacy of the minimally invasive procedures that treats poor leg circulation as it happens — during a live, global webcast —from an endovascular suite at
Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia.
Dr. Marc H. Glickman, FACS, internationally renowned vascular surgeon at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, moderated the procedure.
Visit the OR-Live site to watch the procedure anytime online Sentara Vascular ServicesAbout 1 in 37 Americans suffer from peripheral vascular disease (PVD), a disease often caused by a narrowing of the vessels that carry blood to and from leg and arm muscles. By age 65, 1 in 5 Americans will have this very serious disease that if left untreated, could result in limb amputation from gangrene. Diagnosis is critical, as people with PVD are also 6 to 7 times more likely to have a heart attack or stroke.
1 Patients have traditionally undergone a highly invasive open procedure where a surgeon performs bypass surgery. Open procedures require up to a 10-day hospital stay, general anesthesia, and several weeks of post-operative recovery.
Now with endovascular procedures, patients have an alternative to a traditional, lengthy surgery with improved recovery times that most times require less than an overnight hospital stay.
During this procedure today, doctors may use an ultrasound to gain a real-time view of vessels just before a puncture is made in the femoral artery. Once the access is made, a tiny tube or catheter is threaded into the artery. During the procedure other tools used to open the vessel and restore blood flow to the depleted limbs will be inserted through the catheter.
Vascular surgeons at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital use some of the latest advances in vascular technology during these minimally invasive procedures. Today, doctors may rely on a tiny blade to shave away plaque built up in the arteries causing the blockage. The shaved plaque will be collected in a basket on the device and totally removed from the patient. Other tools used during these procedures include a “cool” laser to vaporize the blockage or even stents to prop open vessels and restore blood flow.
“Our patients have an 85% success rate versus the 50% offered through traditional surgeries,” says Glickman, director of vascular services at Sentara Healthcare. “We are offering patients who may not qualify for surgery because of the seriousness of their condition, improved circulation without all of the risks and complications associated with surgery.”
This is the first program in a series of
ExploreHealth with Sentara webcasts sponsored by Sentara Healthcare to give medical professionals and consumers the opportunity to view innovative procedures live on the Internet from anywhere in the world.
Symptoms of Peripheral Vascular Disease Painful cramping of leg or hip muscles during walking or exercise
Numbness, weakness or feeling of heaviness in legs
Burning or aching feet or toes while at rest
Cool skin in specific areas of legs or feet
Color changes in skin in arms or legs
Toe and foot sores that do not heal promptly
Risk Factors for Peripheral Vascular Disease Diabetes
Smoking
High blood pressure or high cholesterol
Family History of Heart Disease
Sentara Norfolk General Hospital is a 569-bed tertiary care facility known regionally and nationally for many of its specialized services. The hospital’s vascular program has earned the distinction as the only center in the U.S. to receive the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations’ (JCAHO) disease specific care certification for vascular services. The center offers patients a dedicated vascular intensive care unit, stepdown unit, and vascular pre- and post procedure area.
1 American Heart Association