Allegheny General Hospital (AGH), the flagship academic medical center of Allegheny Health Network (AHN), recently announced the official opening of its second hybrid operating room (OR) – a state-of-the-art suite utilized for complex cardiac and endovascular procedures. This announcement marks a significant milestone for the hospital and AHN’s award-winning Cardiovascular Institute as it will allow cardiac and vascular surgeons to expand their offering of minimally-invasive, image-guided surgeries to more heart patients.
The hybrid OR at AGH features the most advanced imaging technology available providing surgeons with real-time diagnostic images – like CT, ultrasound and x-ray scans – for more precise navigation during highly-complex surgical procedures.
“In a traditional OR setting, patients are transported from imaging facilities to the operating room on the day of the procedure, or they are required to schedule additional imaging appointments prior to surgery,” said Satish Muluk, MD, vascular surgeon and director of vascular surgery at the AHN Cardiovascular Institute. “The addition of a second hybrid OR provides more patients in our region with access to the most advanced, efficient surgical care which leads to improved clinical outcomes, shorter recovery times and decreased length of stay in the hospital.”
The specialized equipment, personnel and environment in the hybrid OR also allow for a seamless transition from a minimally-invasive approach to an open procedure in an emergency, making the preferred option more accessible to a larger number of high-risk cardiovascular patients.
Procedures which take place in the hybrid OR are most often endovascular procedures to treat conditions such as an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), or minimally-invasive surgeries such as transcatheter aortic valve repair (TAVR) to repair valves within the heart and transaortic artery revascularization (TCAR) for advanced stenting of the carotid artery. These procedures require highly-advanced imaging technology for navigation as the surgeon places a catheter through a patient’s groin, chest or neck and threads it to predetermined areas for subsequent stenting, ballooning or valve replacement/repair.
A unique feature of the hybrid ORs at AGH is an innovative technology acquired by the AHN Cardiovascular Institute in October 2021 known as IOPS (intra-operative positioning system) by Centerline Biomedical. This highly advanced platform creates three-dimensional perspectives of the vascular system to improve navigation, quickly locate aortic aneurysms and precisely implant stent grafting to perform complex endovascular aortic interventions.
“The Cardiovascular Institute at Allegheny Health Network is routinely recognized on a national level as a leader in offering the latest advanced technologies, therapies and protocols that greatly improve outcomes and overall experiences for our patients,” said Stephen Bailey, MD, cardiothoracic surgeon and Chair of AHN Cardiovascular Institute. “The addition of a second hybrid OR at our flagship academic medical center is yet another example of the significant investments we are making daily to maintain the highest standards of care and the overall patient experience.”
For decades, the AHN Cardiovascular Institute has been synonymous with care innovation, research and clinical excellence. Most recently, the Institute received national recognition for its quality of comprehensive cardiac care earning gold-level status from the American Heart Association and The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval of which AGH is one of just 15 medical centers nationwide to have this prestigious designation.
Vascular surgeons at the Institute also just announced they were the first in the Greater Pittsburgh area to implant the latest neuromodulation device, Barostim, for the treatment of symptoms associated with progressive heart failure. For more information on the AHN Cardiovascular Institute or to make an appointment, visit ahn.org.
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About Allegheny Health Network
Allegheny Health Network (AHN.org) is an integrated health care delivery system serving the greater Western Pennsylvania region. The network is composed of 14 hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, Health + Wellness Pavilions, an employed physician organization, home- and community-based health services, a research institute, and a group purchasing organization. AHN provides patients with access to a complete spectrum of advanced medical services, including nationally recognized programs for primary and emergency care, cardiovascular disease, cancer care, orthopedic surgery, neurology and neurosurgery, women’s health, diabetes and more. AHN employs approximately 22,000 people, has more than 2,600 physicians on its medical staff, and serves as a clinical campus for Drexel University College of Medicine and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.
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