Chicago,
27
June
2025
|
13:20 PM
America/Chicago

Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital Launches New Hybrid Vascular Operating Room; Expanding Advanced Surgical Care in the South Suburbs

Summary

Patients with complex vascular conditions can now access tertiary-level care closer to home

BCVI South Region Vascular Team
BCVI South Region Vascular Team

PALOS HEIGHTS, IL — JUNE 27, 2025 — Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital is proud to announce the opening of a new hybrid vascular operating room (OR), bringing leading-edge surgical technology and advanced vascular care to the south suburbs. This milestone reflects Northwestern Medicine’s ongoing commitment to providing world-class care closer to home.

The new hybrid OR features a ceiling-mounted fluoroscopic/x-ray system with integrated ultrasound, intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), and navigational software. This advanced imaging suite enables surgeons to perform complex vascular procedures with greater precision, reduced radiation exposure and improved surgical efficiency.

Nandan Nath MD
Nandan Nath MD

“The future of imaging in vascular surgical practice is available now,” said Gabriel Wallace, MD, vascular surgeon and director of vascular surgery for the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital. “The hybrid system allows surgeons to see with incredible clarity, treat with greater accuracy and do so in a way that’s safer for both patients and staff. It’s a game-changer for our community.”

The hybrid OR includes overlay image technology to streamline procedures and reduce radiation, with the potential for future upgrades to fiberoptic real-time navigation (FORS)—a non-radiating technology recently introduced at Northwestern Memorial Hospital Chicago.

The launch of the hybrid OR coincides with the arrival of vascular surgeon Nandan Nath, MD, who joined Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital earlier this year. His addition doubles the hospital’s vascular surgery capacity and expands access to both in-office and surgical vascular care.

“This new operating room and the addition of Dr. Nath allow us to serve more patients with the most advanced tools available,” said Dr. Wallace. “Dr. Nath has also established a clinic in Mokena for the Northwestern Medicine Vascular and Vein Center, allowing better access to the office for patients who live further south.”

Wallace and Langevin
Wallace and Langevin

One of those patients is Ed Langevin, a 63-year-old Orland Park resident. The retiree underwent two life-changing procedures to treat a blocked superior mesenteric artery—a condition known as mesenteric ischemia.

“I thought I was a goner,” said Langevin. “I couldn’t eat, I was losing weight fast, and no one could figure out what was wrong. Then I met Dr. Wallace.”

After being diagnosed in May 2024, Langevin underwent surgery in June 2024 and a follow-up procedure in March 2025. Today, he’s back to spending time with his grandchildren, volunteering at his church and enjoying his favorite sandwiches from Submarine City in Orland Park. Earlier this week, he joined Dr. Wallace for a behind-the-scenes look at the new OR before the space undergoes terminal cleaning and disinfection in advance of the first surgeries in early July.

“Dr. Wallace told me, ‘We can fix this,’ and he did,” said Langevin. “Now I can eat again, take walks with my wife, play with my grandkids, and just enjoy life. I feel very blessed to have access to this caliber of care so close to home. This technology is really something.”

Wallace and Schneiders
Wallace and Schneiders

Among the advanced procedures now available at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital is fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair (FEVAR), an advanced, minimally invasive procedure for treating complex abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). This technique uses custom-designed grafts with small openings—called fenestrations—to maintain blood flow to vital organs while repairing the weakened section of the aorta.

“FEVAR allows us to treat high-risk aneurysms and treat patients with greater precision, with significantly shorter recovery times compared to open surgery,” said Dr. Wallace. “By tailoring the graft to each patient’s anatomy, we can provide a personalized treatment to restore blood flow safely and effectively. What was once an operation with a giant incision, a week in the hospital, and 6 weeks recovery can now be done with a tiny incision and a one-night hospitalization.”

Lockport resident Chuck Schneider, an 86-year-old retired machinist and army veteran, was among the first patients to have the FEVAR surgery at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital. Diagnosed years earlier with an AAA, Schneider required surgery when the aneurysm ballooned to a dangerous size. His medical team at the VA recommended he see Dr. Wallace who could repair the aneurysm minimally invasively.

“When I met Dr. Wallace, he told me he could fix the aneurysm without cutting me open and I knew he was the surgeon I wanted,” said Schneider. “I had complete confidence in him and his team. He’s honest and straightforward, so I knew I was in the best hands, and I wouldn’t have to travel far. In less than two weeks I felt great. I was surprised by how fast I recovered.”

After surgery, Schneider is back to doing the things he loves, including spending time with his wife of 60 years Joann and continuing his annual tradition of pheasant hunting with his sons. In September, he’ll travel to Germany to visit his granddaughter and meet his great grandchild for the first time.

With the opening of the hybrid OR, Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital continues to elevate the standard of care in the south suburbs—ensuring that patients like Ed and Chuck do not have to travel far to receive the most advanced vascular treatments available.

About Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute
Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute, celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2025, is an innovative powerhouse in developing the latest, safest advances in cardiovascular care. Anchored in downtown Chicago, it has expanded and integrated across the Northwestern Medicine health system, bringing advanced cardiovascular services close to where patients live and work.

For more information about Northwestern Medicine’s top ranked cardiovascular care, go to nm.org/heart or call (312) NM-HEART. To learn more about Northwestern Medicine, visit https://news.nm.org/.

  • Wallace and Langevin
    Ed Langevin and Dr Gabriel Wallace
  • Vascular Team with Langevin
    Palos Vascular Surgery Team with Ed Langevin
  • Wallace and Langevin_2
    Dr Wallace shows Ed Langevin new OR
  • BCVI South Region Vascular Team
    Palos Vascular Surgery and BCVI Leaders with Ed Langevin
  • Hybrid Vascular OR_Palos_10
    The hybrid vascular operating room is a specialized surgical space that combines a traditional operating room with advanced imaging technology that allows surgeons to treat complex vascular conditions, such as aortic aneurysms.
  • Hybrid Vascular OR_Palos_9
    The hybrid vascular operating room is a specialized surgical space that combines a traditional operating room with advanced imaging technology that allows surgeons to treat complex vascular conditions, such as aortic aneurysms.
  • Hybrid Vascular OR_Palos_8
    The hybrid vascular operating room is a specialized surgical space that combines a traditional operating room with advanced imaging technology that allows surgeons to treat complex vascular conditions, such as aortic aneurysms.
  • Hybrid Vascular OR_Palos_7
    The hybrid vascular operating room is a specialized surgical space that combines a traditional operating room with advanced imaging technology that allows surgeons to treat complex vascular conditions, such as aortic aneurysms.
  • Hybrid Vascular OR_Palos_6
    The hybrid vascular operating room is a specialized surgical space that combines a traditional operating room with advanced imaging technology that allows surgeons to treat complex vascular conditions, such as aortic aneurysms.
  • Hybrid Vascular OR_Palos_5
    The hybrid vascular operating room is a specialized surgical space that combines a traditional operating room with advanced imaging technology that allows surgeons to treat complex vascular conditions, such as aortic aneurysms.
  • Hybrid Vascular OR_Palos_4
    The hybrid vascular operating room is a specialized surgical space that combines a traditional operating room with advanced imaging technology that allows surgeons to treat complex vascular conditions, such as aortic aneurysms.
  • Hybrid Vascular OR_Palos_3
    The hybrid vascular operating room is a specialized surgical space that combines a traditional operating room with advanced imaging technology that allows surgeons to treat complex vascular conditions, such as aortic aneurysms.
  • Hybrid Vascular OR_Palos_2
    The hybrid vascular operating room is a specialized surgical space that combines a traditional operating room with advanced imaging technology that allows surgeons to treat complex vascular conditions, such as aortic aneurysms.
  • Hybrid Vascular OR_Palos_1
    The hybrid vascular operating room is a specialized surgical space that combines a traditional operating room with advanced imaging technology that allows surgeons to treat complex vascular conditions, such as aortic aneurysms.
  • Hybrid Vascular OR_Palos
    The hybrid vascular operating room is a specialized surgical space that combines a traditional operating room with advanced imaging technology that allows surgeons to treat complex vascular conditions, such as aortic aneurysms.
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