Patient Najib Saoui with Christopher Smolock, MD, left, and John Phair, MD
Mount Sinai Queens has achieved a milestone in surgical innovation with the successful completion of its first iliac-branch endovascular aortic repair (IBE)—a complex, minimally invasive procedure to treat an abdominal aortic aneurysm and iliac artery aneurysm—performed for the first time using fixed imaging in the hospital’s newly equipped operating room.
The groundbreaking procedure was successfully completed by vascular surgeons Christopher Smolock, MD, and John Phair, MD, and marks a significant advancement in the hospital’s ability to offer comprehensive vascular interventions that previously required transferring patients to Manhattan campuses.
Najib Saoui’s aneurysm was discovered incidentally during a CT scan, It had no symptoms and was monitored closely for several years. When the aneurysm reached a size that required intervention, the care team at Mount Sinai Queens was able to offer a state-of-the-art solution close to home.
In the procedure, aneurysms are treated by re-lining them with a covered stent, inserted through a small catheter in both groin arteries. This minimally invasive approach prevents the arteries from continuing to enlarge while preserving blood flow through the major artery branches to the abdomen and pelvis.
“This was a more technically complex repair,” Dr. Smolock says, “but with the advanced capabilities of our fixed imaging suite, we were able to perform the entire procedure on Mr. Saoui through a minimally invasive approach by accessing the artery from inside while preserving critical arterial branches to the pelvis.”
The two-hour procedure was a success, and Mr. Saoui was discharged the next day with no postoperative restrictions, able to resume normal activities without any limitations. This is a stark contrast to traditional open aortic surgery, which often involves a lengthy hospital stay and recovery period.
“This is a perfect example of how we’re expanding access to advanced surgical care in Queens, which has tripled over the past two years” Dr. Phair says. “Patients don’t need to travel to Manhattan to get the same high-quality, leading-edge treatment.”
All aortic aneurysms—whether treated or untreated—require lifelong monitoring. The patient will be followed with routine CT scans and ultrasounds, beginning one month after surgery and then annually, to ensure the repair remains functional. In some cases, additional maintenance procedures may be needed down the road, but those too are minimally invasive with virtually no downtime.
This case exemplifies Mount Sinai Queens’ ongoing commitment to bringing world-class surgical expertise and technology to the local community, the physicians said, enabling patients to receive exceptional, personalized care without leaving their borough.