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Adam Beck, MD Performs Nation’s First Aortic Aneurysm Repair with LumiGuide Fiberoptic RealShape By laura freeman
If there is a medical situation that compares to feeling like you’re living under the sword of Damocles, finding that you have an aortic aneurysm is one of them. “An aneurysm diagnosis naturally brings with it a sense of urgency. No one wants to live under constant, life threatening danger. However, in managing the condition and hopefully correcting it, there are situations where patience is a priority,” said Adam Beck, MD, Director of UAB’s Division of Vascular Surgery & Endovascular Therapy. Beck is also a member of the UAB Cardiovascular Institute. In November he was first in
the United States and second in the world to use the new LumiGuide, a second generation 3D device guidance solution powered by Fiber Optic RealShape Technology (FORS). “The light technology reduces procedure time and the need for fluoroscopy. We are no longer limited to relying on just x-ray or ultrasound for complex visualization of internal arterial anatomies. It allows us to see in real time what’s going on inside what can be very complex and irregular structures. This helps us stay on the cutting edge of endovascular aortic repairs.” Perhaps the most difficult skill in managing these vascular anomalies effectively is learning how to recognize when it’s better to do some(CONTINUED ON PAGE 3)
While in surgery, Dr. Beck views the aorta.
Effective Pre-Operative Evaluation is Critical to Providing Quality Anesthesia Care By marti WeBB slay
Godlewski replaces a breathing tube that had become dislodged during surgery.
Anesthesiologists are now playing a bigger patient assessment role prior to surgery. “It’s becoming imperative that anesthesiologists practice more than just intraoperative anesthesia, but that they move into the preoperative space as well, especially in a tertiary referral center like UAB,” said Chris Godlewski, MD, MSHA, associate professor in the UAB Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine. “It can be a challenge to take care of some patients, given the burden of comorbidities and the extent of surgery they may be having. “The upshot of this is that Anesthesi-
ologists have expanded into the perioperative surgical home concept. We now have a process in which the patient’s medical history is reviewed, and they are often seen by an anesthesia provider prior to the day of surgery. We order lab studies, initiate pathways for things like sleep apnea and postoperative nausea, collect critical information and intervene when necessary to try to ensure the patient isn’t going to get cancelled the day of surgery, and to make sure the anesthesiologist has all the necessary information. This allows the patient to proceed through the peri-operative period as safely as they can. “To help with this process, my colleague Dr. Jeff Simmons has built a robust
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Preoperative Assessment, Consultation, and Treatment Clinic. It is constantly updated with the latest perioperative guidelines with the goal being the safest surgical experience possible.” Prior to surgery, it can be helpful for the anesthesiologist to see many of the studies that historically only specialists would evaluate. “We can tailor our anesthetic plan as a result of those studies,” Godlewski said. “From an anesthesia perspective, we have to consider the entirety of the patient’s medical and surgical history. We may obtain cardiac catheterization reports, echocardiograms, and pulmonary function tests and put it (CONTINUED ON PAGE 3)
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