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V ASCULAR DISEASE REMAINS the leading cause of death in the United States, according to a National Vital Statistics Report released in May 2013. It accounts for nearly one-third of all deaths in the US. Vikram Rao, MD, is a board-certified vascular surgeon at Lake Health where peripheral artery disease (PAD) and carotid artery stenosis are the two most common vascular diseases he and his two colleagues treat. "We do about 800 procedures a year at Lake Health, some of which are the most complex procedures being performed in the area," says Dr. Rao. "We probably have one of the busiest vascular programs in Northeast Ohio, and that's substantiated by Medicare data." Most of the procedures are endovascular and performed in Lake Health's new $4 million hybrid vascular OR. Equipped with the latest medical technology available, it's "as good as it gets" for vascular disease treatment, according to Dr. Rao. "It's a state-of-the-art imaging suite, which gives us an advantage in delivering the balloons and stents to the right place, and it's a fully functioning OR all in one space," he explains. "For patients who require an endovascular and open proce- dure, the hybrid OR offers the advantage of having both done at the same time. And it's available 24/7 for emergency care." Revascularization Techniques for PAD As people age, their peripheral arteries can develop atherosclerosis from the build- up of fat and cholesterol deposits. Eventually, the narrowed arteries can lead to leg pain or cramps with activity, changes in skin color, foot ulcers, and leg pain when at rest. Total loss of circulation can result in gangrene and loss of a limb. "PAD is associated with people who smoke heavily, people who have high cho- lesterol, people who have diabetes, people who are sedentary, and people who have genetic disposition to atherosclerosis," says Dr. Rao. "Obviously once a patient is diagnosed with PAD, these risk factors have +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +++ + +++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ HOSPITAL SPOTLIGHT ❯ Advanced Endovascular Treatment at Lake Health Vikram Rao, MD, is a board- certified vascular surgeon at Lake Health where a new $4 million hybrid vascular OR recently opened. HOSPITA L SPOTLIGHT 2 6 | Cleveland/Akron/Canton MD NEWS ■ M D N E W S . CO M ■ S E P T E M B E R /O C T O B E R 2 0 1 4