Cutting Edge Vascular Surgery at Malcom Randall VA Hospital
The Malcom Randall Veterans Affairs Medical Center is delivering state of the art procedures for Veterans in vascular surgery, offering cutting edge technology including Thoracic Branch Endograft treatment for aortic arch aneurysms. As one of the first VA medical centers to provide this treatment, the VA is providing timely access to world-class health care to Veterans.
Dr. Scott Robinson, an Attending Physician in the Vascular Surgery Department, has performed this treatment for three Veterans utilizing a new device, a Thoracic Branch Endograft or TBE, to repair vital arteries that feed blood to the extremities as well as the brain. An aneurysm is a weakened section of the aorta that dilates over time. If it gets large enough, the aneurysm can rupture, which can result in death.
“Historically, without these specialized devices, surgeries to repair this condition can last hours with recovery taking more than a week,” said Robinson. “With the TBE and the new procedure, surgery time is reduced, and the Veteran can be back home recovering the next day.”
As the Veteran is at the heart of everything the VA does, we take care of Veterans’ hearts, which includes cardiovascular health, through these groundbreaking procedures. The minimally invasive surgery results in our Veterans recovering at a faster pace and returning to normal life patterns, enhancing the quality of life for the Veteran and their families.
Partnerships, innovation, and collaboration are at the forefront of how the VA functions. With the recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval, the use of the device has been fully implemented at Malcom Randall. Partnerships extended to cooperation with University of Florida-Shands Medical Center where VA surgeons have received the training and proficiency in performing the procedure for Veterans.
“Due to our location, we are in the unique position of being able to leverage the expertise of the UF Shands aortic center, which allows us to provide care for our Veterans using the most advanced technology for treatment of aortic disease,” said Robinson.
Dr. Michol Cooper, Dr. Sal Scali, Dr. Scott Berceli, along with multiple operating room nurses, physician extenders, administrative support staff, and anesthesiologists all contributed greatly to the implementation of this procedure at Malcom Randall. The capability to provide this treatment here allows for Veterans to remain in the VA hospital rather than having to be transferred to another facility, delivering on the VA’s promise to provide timely access to world-class healthcare.
For more information on the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, please visit https://www.va.gov/north-florida-health-care/locations/malcom-randall-department-of-veterans-affairs-medical-center/.