Inova Heart and Vascular Institute Unveils New ‘Hybrid’ Operating Room

Inova Introduces First Hybrid OR in Washington, DC Region; Innovative Design Allows Specialists to Operate Simultaneously

Falls Church, VA – (November 16, 2010) – Inova Heart and Vascular Institute is unveiling today a uniquely designed cardiovascular operating room (OR) that will allow cardiac surgeons, electrophysiologists and cardiologists to collaboratively perform combined procedures on a patient. This innovative hybrid OR reduces surgical time and allows patients to recover faster and with less risk of complications. Media is invited to a special reception and tour beginning at 5:30 p.m. today in the Inova Heart and Vascular Institute Atrium.

The hybrid OR suite combines a traditional OR with the advanced imaging systems of a catheterization lab. When a patient requires both surgery and an image-guided intervention, being treated in a hybrid OR allows doctors from different specialties to work together, resulting in shorter hospital stays and lower complication rates for patients.

This is the first hybrid OR in the Washington, DC region and the first in the country to pair Philips Healthcare’s cardiovascular X-ray systems with MAQUET’s “Magnus” surgical table in a single work environment.

“Hospitals today require rooms that are flexible and easily adaptable. Our cutting-edge hybrid OR represents the first of its kind in the nation,” said Patricia Knowles, RN, Interim Administrator, Inova Heart and Vascular Institute. “At Inova, we pride ourselves on investing in leading technology that benefits the patients we serve. Our new hybrid OR is a prime example of that investment.”

Philips’ 3D Heart Navigator tool combines 3D CT images of a patient’s cardiac anatomy into a single image with an overlay of the live X-ray fluoroscopy information. MAQUET’s “Magnus” OR table system features a carbon-fiber table top, which provides near 360° radio translucency, allowing optimum X-ray images in interventional procedures and minimally invasive operations. In addition, the flexibility of the OR table system allows anatomically correct positioning. By combining static 3D images with the live 2D images, Inova physicians will get a much clearer view of a patient’s anatomy, helping them to achieve the best clinical outcome.

“We are most pleased to be able to offer to our patients the newest and most sophisticated cardiac interventional facility in the region, if not in the country. Different cardiac interventional procedures, previously performed in three separate areas in the hospital, will now be consolidated in one specialized hybrid suite,” said Alan Speir, MD, Medical Director, Cardiac Surgical Services, Inova Health System. “Cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, and electrophysiologists will all be able to collaborate together around the individual patient utilizing the most up-to-date technology available for each specialty.”

“We work closely with hospitals to listen to and act on their feedback, and it was clear that Inova Health System needed greater flexibility in how they used their minimally invasive surgical rooms,” said Bert van Meurs, senior vice president of Cardiovascular X-ray at Philips Healthcare. “By integrating MAQUET’s “Magnus” table, we can enable both minimally invasive procedures and open surgery to take place in a single space, simplifying the physicians’ work environment.”

“When working in tandem, the OR table and the 3D Heart Navigator tool communicate simultaneously with each other, achieving the best possible imaging results,” said Dr. Dieter Engel, R&D director of the MAQUET Surgical Workplaces division. “With the integration of these systems, we are furthering the successful world-class care provided at Inova Heart and Vascular Institute.”

“We are excited to offer our patients the very first hybrid OR specifically designed to be used by surgeons, cardiologists and electrophysiologists for both cardiac arrhythmias and other structural heart diseases,” said Niv Ad, MD, Chief, Cardiac Surgery; Director, Cardiac Surgery Research, Inova Heart and Vascular Institute. “This unique patient-focused environment will directly benefit patients through having multiple clinicians in the same room collaborating on the patient’s care. Through the use of this exciting technology, which includes a bi-plane machine, clinicians can devise and deliver a plan of care that best meets the needs of the patient.”

Inova Health System is a not-for-profit healthcare system based in Northern Virginia that consists of hospitals and other health services, including emergency- and urgent-care centers, home care, nursing homes, mental health and blood donor services, and wellness classes. Governed by a voluntary board of community members, Inova’s mission is to improve the health of the diverse community it serves through excellence in patient care, education and research. Inova provides a healthy environment for its patients, families, visitors, staff and physicians by prohibiting tobacco use on its campuses.