Hybrid Therapies

The Carl J. and Ruth Shapiro Cardiovascular Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) is a national leader in integrating cutting-edge technologies and advanced surgical techniques to improve medical outcomes for our patients. The Center now boasts one of the most advanced hybrid operating rooms (ORs) in the country, which allows our staff to perform high-end diagnostic imaging and multiple surgical or non-surgical interventions for an individual patient without ever leaving the operating room.

Treatment that used to take place over the course of several days or more, and in multiple operating rooms and diagnostic labs, can now all be done over the course of one visit in one room. This efficient treatment leads to a comfortable, less time-consuming hospital stay and a quicker recovery for patients. It is also anticipated that the improved communications and timely responses enabled by having the entire range of specialists collaborating in the same room at the same time will lead to better outcomes.

The design of the hybrid OR allows for the integration of all the necessary equipment and multidisciplinary specialists required to seamlessly diagnose and treat a patient requiring multiple procedures.

A key part of the hybrid OR’s potential to improve efficiency and outcomes is the ability to provide high-end imaging right in the operating room. BWH is the first hospital in the United States to use the Artis zeego® system in the operating room. This robotically controlled, high-end imaging machine rotates completely around a patient’s body. This set-up makes it easier for our staff to make a diagnosis in the operating room, and, if necessary, immediately operate.

What hybrid therapies are performed at BWH?

The hybrid cardiovascular procedures currently offered in the Cardiovascular Center are:

• same-day combinations of coronary artery interventions and minimally invasive valve repair or replacement.
• endovascular treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms — inserting a tube inside the aorta to repair an aneurysm.
• stent graft treatment for thoracic aortic aneurysm in combination with open aneurysm repair or with minimally invasive cardiovascular procedures.
• electrophysiology procedures, including lead extraction and replacement of pacemaker/ICD devices.
• combined open surgical and endovascular procedures for peripheral arterial disease.

Developing new therapies

The hybrid OR not only has the potential to improve outcomes for established cardiovascular interventions, but it can also help to advance new procedures. The hybrid OR is now being used as the surgical setting for patients participating in the PARTNER (Placement of AoRTic TraNscathetER Valve) clinical trial, which is studying the viability of percutaneous aortic valve replacement (PAVR). This is a promising new treatment for patients with severe aortic stenosis (narrowing of the aorta) who are not ideal candidates for traditional open heart surgery. BWH is one of 24 hospitals nationwide that are examining the potential of this minimally invasive procedure.

Schedule a consultation

If you would like to schedule a consultation with a BWH physician, please call the Patient Referral Service — staffed 8:00am - 5:30pm, Monday through Friday — at 1-800-294-9999, or fill out an online request form.