VALUE OF AN ENDOVASCULAR SUITE IN THE OPERATING-ROOM

The purpose of this study is to describe the advantages and value of a n endovascular suite in the operating room from a vascular surgeon's p erspective. All endovascular procedures were performed in a specially equipped operating room by vascular surgeons using digital flouroscopi c imaging equipment. Between January 1, 1994 and August 31, 1996, intr aoperative balloon angioplasties were attempted by vascular surgeons i n 102 patients with insertion of 22 stents. Angioplasties were perform ed for stenoses in 50 arterial bypasses and 25 iliac, 17 femoral and 1 0 popliteal arteries proximal or distal to arterial grafts. Sixty-two procedures were performed concomitantly with a surgical bypass and 40 were performed as the sole procedure (30 percutaneous, 10 open) in pat ients who had previously undergone a bypass. There were five technical ly unsatisfactory results which were converted to surgical procedures and one postoperative hematoma that required surgical repair. Ninety o f the 102 grafts remained patent more than 1 month after the procedure . Establishment of an endovascular operating room suite enables vascul ar surgeons to perform adjunctive endovascular procedures concomitantl y with vascular surgery and treat unexpected findings in the operating room amenable to endovascular intervention without requesting other i nterventionalists to participate on an emergent basis.