High Tech Procedure available in Richmond
General Surgeons, Inc., through Dr. Michael Buckmaster and Dr. William Ducey,  became the first physicians in East Central Indiana to perform the new FDA approved Endovascular treatment of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms (AAA).  Guidant Corporation received FDA approval for its 'Ancure' device in September of 1999, and began training surgeons around the United States soon after. Drs. Buckmaster and Ducey were among the early participants in training for this procedure. The training program was undertaken through the department of Vascular Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh.  The surgeons have also completed training and are implanting the Medtronic 'AneuRx' graft, the next FDA approved AAA Endograft on the market. 

Incision Eliminated
By altogether eliminating the abdominal incision that is performed during the traditional open procedure, this new procedure significantly reduces an aneurysm patients time in the hospital, decreases discomfort, and significantly reduces the recovery process at home. Instead of 3 days in intensive care and 3 to 4 more days in the hospital, Endovascular patients are often discharged the day following surgery with little or no discomfort. 

How it's done
The abdominal incision can be eliminated as the replacement graft is threaded through the patients groin blood vessels. (See pictures of this repair.)  Small incisions are therefore made in the groins instead of the large abdominal incision that must be made in the traditional open repair.  A large abdominal incision is necessary in the traditional repair in order to move all of the internal organs out of the way, to facilitate traditional repair of an AAA.  The device is precisely placed using surgical and x-ray techniques. The small incisions in each groin are made in order to gain access to the arteries there. Then devices are threaded into place and deployed very precisely.  The 'AneuRx' employs stent technology to keep the graft in place and to dilate any blockages potentially encountered in the blood vessels around the area of the aneurysm.

Watch one be deployed
Watch a short graphic video of an EndoAAA graft being deployed. Click here.

Commitment to quality care
Dr. Ducey has been in the practice of vascular surgery since 1987, all at Reid Hospital.  Dr. Buckmaster, another fellowship trained vascular surgeon, joined the practice in 1998.  Both are proud to bring such technologically advanced procedures to Richmond and the surrounding area. Bringing this procedure to our patients is another example of the commitment that the surgeons at General Surgeons have in maintaining the highest levels of care for their patients.