Saint Raphael’s Opens Cutting-Edge Vascular Operating Room

NEW HAVEN — The Hospital of Saint Raphael has inaugurated the most technologically advanced operating room of its kind in the state. Its new vascular surgery OR features the latest in real-time imaging for cutting-edge procedures like minimally invasive bypasses, aneurysm repair, and the implantation of stents, grafts, and defibrillators.

“The technology in this new operating room provides a much higher resolution of images, improving accuracy,” said Scott Helton, MD, chief of surgery at the Hospital of Saint Raphael.

The new room features a state-of-the-art, floor-mounted angiography system with a robotic arm that allows for real-time imaging of the patient during a procedure. The new device uses advanced X-ray technology to enable doctors to see inside blood vessels as they work and operate with pinpoint accuracy. A robotic arm moves the unit into place so a patient does not have to be moved to another room for imaging during complicated procedures.

The new 780-square-foot vascular operating room at Saint Raphael’s is also larger than traditional ORs to accommodate the imaging equipment and scanners needed for minimally invasive vascular surgery, in which surgeons operate on veins and arteries through small incisions.

High-quality imaging is critical to this type of procedure, said Ralph De Natale, MD, Saint Raphael’s section chief of vascular surgery. “This new operating room will make for better, safer operations.”

Construction started in late 2008 on the new OR, which was completed at a total cost to the hospital of $2.8 million. Other state-of-the-art features include an LED lighting system designed to prevent outages and recessed areas to accommodate the components of the new imaging system. The vascular OR is Saint Raphael’s 27th operating room.

 “Our vascular surgeons are leaders in minimally invasive surgery and have a strong regional reputation,” Dr Helton said. “This new operating room will allow us to offer an even higher level of care to our patients.”

For more information, visit www.srhs.org.