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VASCULAR SURGERY
Types of TOS disorders and related symptoms treated by vascular surgeons on the medical staff at Baylor Scott & White Heart and Vascular Hospital – Dallas include :
• Neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome
• Venous thoracic outlet syndrome
• Arterial thoracic outlet syndrome
Patients from across the US , including professional and collegiate athletes in baseball , golf , swimming , and volleyball , seek the nationally recognized program and surgeons on the medical staff . The program is led by Gregory J . Pearl , MD , FACS , co-medical director for vascular surgery at Baylor Scott & White Heart and Vascular Hospital – Dallas and Baylor University Medical Center .
On a continual basis , the program carefully studies outcomes , following patients for several years . With many of the patients being professional athletes from all over the United States , post-surgery rehabilitation and long-term outcomes have led to a highly regarded and nationally known program . Specifically studying and documenting the history of the program ’ s success with professional athletes , several notable presentations at virtual national conferences occurred . On several occasions over the past few years , Dr . Pearl spoke on the topic at the Major League Baseball conference for owners , coaches and athletic trainers .
COMPLEX DIALYSIS ACCESS
Clinical studies and continued research in the area of complex dialysis access is a mainstay for the vascular surgery division . In fiscal year 2022 , vascular surgeons on the hospital ’ s medical staff continued to see an increasing number of referrals from not only Texas , but also from the greater Southwest region for complex dialysis access procedures . The team continues to support the National Kidney Foundation ’ s “ Fistula First ” initiative with the goal of providing fistulas for the end-stage renal disease patient population in concert with the goals of the National Kidney Foundation Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative ( NKF NDOQI ).
Baylor Scott & White Heart and Vascular Hospital – Dallas was the first site in the US to use the the latest generation system for creating an arteriovenous fistula through the use of flexible 4F magnetic catheters with radiofrequency electrodes for the delivery of radiofrequency energy , a new and innovative treatment option for patients with endstage renal disease ( ESRD ). The technology enables vascular surgeons on the Baylor Scott & White Heart and Vascular Hospital – Dallas medical staff to provide ESRD patients with two additional fistula location options that are less invasive compared to a surgical fistula . Using this approach can help create and maintain AV access for patients on hemodialysis , which is an important expansion of the hospital ’ s complex dialysis access program .