Cardiovascular diseases, which we increasingly encounter today, are among the most significant health issues. While many conditions can be treated with traditional surgical methods, advancements in technology have brought about certain developments in surgical techniques as well. Among these innovations, Endovascular Treatments and Hybrid Surgeries provide numerous advantages in the field of cardiovascular surgery.
Endovascular Treatments
Endovascular treatments are interventional/angiographic techniques frequently used for the treatment of vascular diseases, involving smaller incisions and the use of auxiliary devices and various medical materials. Over the past 15 years, this field has experienced rapid and significant progress. These treatment methods typically involve accessing the blood vessel through a catheter, allowing direct intervention at the problematic site. Since these techniques are less invasive than traditional open surgery, they pose lower complication risks and offer faster recovery times for patients.
Some of the commonly used endovascular treatments include angioplasty (balloon angioplasty), stent implantation, and embolization.
- Angioplasty is a procedure in which a balloon catheter is used to widen a narrowed blood vessel.
- Stent implantation involves placing a metal, cage-like stent inside the blood vessel to keep it open after angioplasty.
- Embolization is a treatment aimed at blocking abnormal blood vessels to reduce blood flow to specific areas, such as shrinking a tumor or an enlarged prostate gland by reducing its blood supply.
Hybrid Surgery
Hybrid surgery is an approach that combines the advantages of endovascular treatments with those of traditional open surgery, making it particularly effective in treating complex vascular diseases. This method allows surgeons to perform both endovascular procedures and open surgical interventions either in the same session or in separate stages. This offers a less invasive approach for patients while enabling surgeons to carry out more comprehensive interventions.
Hybrid surgery is particularly preferred in cases such as aortic aneurysms, aortic coarctation, complex arteriovenous malformations, coronary bypass surgeries, heart valve surgeries, and major vascular injuries.
For example, in the case of a complex aortic aneurysm, an endovascular approach can be used to place a stent inside the aneurysm sac, eliminating the risk of rupture. Simultaneously, in the same session, bypass techniques using artificial or natural vessels can be employed to ensure adequate blood flow to organs affected by the procedure.
Endovascular treatments and hybrid surgical techniques in cardiovascular surgery provide safer, less invasive, and more effective treatment options for patients. With continuous advancements in technology, the efficacy and reliability of these methods are steadily improving.
Since every patient's condition is unique, the treatment approach must always be tailored to the patient's specific circumstances. Future research is expected to further advance these innovative approaches, leading to the emergence of more effective and safer methods for treating cardiovascular diseases.
Wishing you good health,
Dr. İlker Hasan Karal, Ph.D.
Cardiovascular Surgery Specialist
