A new hybrid vascular operating room at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital is poised to transform surgical care in the south suburbs, offering patients access to advanced procedures once only available in downtown Chicago.
Equipped with high-definition imaging, integrated ultrasound, and navigational software, the state-of-the-art suite allows vascular surgeons to diagnose and treat complex conditions with greater accuracy — and without the need for open surgery in many cases.
“The future of imaging in vascular surgical practice is available now,” said Dr. Gabriel Wallace, director of vascular surgery for the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at Palos Hospital. “The hybrid system allows surgeons to see with incredible clarity, treat with greater accuracy, and do so in a way that’s safer for both patients and staff. It’s a game-changer for our community.”
The hybrid OR features a ceiling-mounted fluoroscopy system with intravascular ultrasound and overlay image technology that helps reduce radiation exposure and streamline procedures. It’s also designed to accommodate future upgrades — including fiberoptic real-time navigation, a non-radiating technology already in use at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Dr. Nandan Nath, who joined Palos Hospital earlier this year, doubles the hospital’s vascular surgery capacity and expands access to in-office and surgical care. Nath has also opened a vascular and vein clinic in Mokena, increasing access for patients who live further south.
“This new operating room and the addition of Dr. Nath allow us to serve more patients with the most advanced tools available,” Wallace said.
Among the minimally invasive procedures now available at Palos is fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair, or FEVAR — a treatment for complex abdominal aortic aneurysms.
The technique uses custom-designed grafts with tiny openings to preserve blood flow to vital organs while reinforcing the aorta.
“FEVAR allows us to treat high-risk aneurysms and treat patients with greater precision, with significantly shorter recovery times compared to open surgery,” Wallace said. “What was once an operation with a giant incision, a week in the hospital, and six weeks recovery can now be done with a tiny incision and a one-night hospitalization.”
Hospital officials say the first procedures in the new space are scheduled to begin in early July.
With the launch of the hybrid OR, Palos Hospital becomes one of the few community hospitals in the region offering this level of vascular surgical technology — bringing world-class care closer to home for patients in the south suburbs.