Outcomes 2019 - Baylor Scott & White Heart and Vascular Hospital BSWHHVH_646_2019 Outcomes JOOMAG MOD | Page 41

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 and arterial thoracic outlet syndrome.
These vascular surgeons perform hundreds of
TOS procedures annually, seeing patients referred
from across the US. First rib resection frequently
results in a successful return to full activity.
Baylor Scott & White Heart and Vascular
Hospital – Dallas is a nationally recognized
treatment center for TOS and 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.
During fiscal year 2019 and 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
Total number of TOS surgeries
(FY19)
235
Vascular surgery fellowship
Two fellows are selected annually for the Baylor
University Medical Center Vascular Surgery
Fellowship Program. One of approximately 100
such programs in the country, the hospital’s
Vascular Surgery Fellowship is more than 50
years old, making it one of the most established
and most competitive vascular surgery
programs in the country. The fellowship has
evolved over the years from an apprenticeship-
type experience to a competency-based
education, encompassing a wide array of skills
including technical, behavioral and ethical.
In addition, fellows receive multi-faceted
experience including simulation, cadaver
surgery, simulation surgery, and other training
approaches. Stephen Hohmann, MD, FACS, a
vascular surgeon on the medical staff of Baylor
Scott & White Heart and Vascular Hospital –
Dallas is the current program director.
Baylor Scott & White Heart and Vascular
Hospital – Dallas is one of the nation’s leading
treatment centers for thoracic outlet syndrome
(TOS)—a condition where the nerve, artery
and vein between the lower neck and upper
chest become compressed, causing pain,
numbness and weakness in the upper extremity.
Patients who live with daily disabling symptoms
secondary to TOS are offered relief with first rib
resection, a surgical procedure offered at Baylor
Scott & White Heart and Vascular Hospital –
Dallas. The first rib resection procedure involves
removing part of the first rib, eliminating the
pressure on the thoracic outlet. In some cases,
blood vessels around the area will need to be
rerouted; if the vessels are extremely narrowed,
angioplasty may become an option.
known program. Specifically studying and
documenting the history of the program’s
success with professional athletes, several
notable presentations at national conferences
in fiscal year 2019 occurred, including the
Society of Vascular Surgeons annual meeting
and Dr. Pearl’s speaking on the topic at the
Major League Baseball conference for owners,
coaches and athletic trainers.
Thoracic outlet syndrome: first rib resection
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