Alongside the innovation and development of medical technology, Premier Hospital Bintaro continuously upskills the doctors and specialists in their respective professional fields, making Premier Hospital Bintaro always at the forefront of services and facilities and thereby improving patient care.
Suhartono, an active member of the Association of Indonesian Vascular and Endovascular Specialist Doctors (PESBEVI) who joined Premier Hospital Bintaro in 2009. Suhartono explains the definition of vascular and endovascular surgery as sub-categories of general surgery. The study involves basic surgery, including specializations in diseases that focus on the blood vessel system, such as arteries, veins, and lymphatic blood vessels (lymphs), which origin in the same stem cells. Pathophysiology is also included, with ultrasound diagnosis, CT scans, and many other advanced examination methods. Treatments can be conservative (non-operative), endovascular open surgery (minimally invasive) methods, or even a combination of all or hybrid techniques (where surgery and catheterization are performed simultaneously).
Some early symptoms that need to be detected in patients include:
– lymphatic disorders; usually caused by blockages, for example, swelling, such as lymphatic filariasis or elephantiasis, or other congenital abnormalities.
– external vein disorders; for example, varicose veins which may be caused by standing on one’s feet for a long time, multiple pregnancies, and aches.
– deep vein disorders or deep vein thrombosis (DVT); swellings due to a blockage in the veins with the risk that if the blockage bursts and goes to the heart and lungs, it may cause sudden death.
– arterial disorders; caused by congenital abnormalities, traumas, and degenerative processes (hypertension, diabetes, blood vessels shrink so they become blocked), the symptoms are usually aches when active and even when at rest. Over time, this can cause scabs due to blockages.
– aneurysm; an abnormality in large blood vessels also called a ‘silent killer’. A burst aneurysm is called a rupture and a ruptured aneurysm causes internal bleeding and often leads to death.
Cases that are commonly found in arteries or veins, such as diabetes with blockages, create damage to the walls of the blood vessels which causes pain during activity and resting, starting from the aorta to the ankles, to the area under the toes, to wounds. Another, called atherosclerosis, is a condition where fat, cholesterol and other substances accumulate in and on the walls of the arteries. Cholesterol plaque deposits on the walls of arteries obstruct blood flow. If ruptured, plaque clumps cause acute occlusion of the artery. These two conditions are commonly found as we age due to a lack of routine medical check-ups or screening, leading to diseases caused by blocked blood vessels, the most common of which are strokes, diabetes, varicose veins, or aneurysms. Treatment can be handled by a highly qualified medical team from the Premier Bintaro Hospital with the expertise of staff, doctors, and state-of-the-art equipment with the latest technology. In cases of strokes, which usually attack the blood vessels from the neck to the brain, an endovascular stem can be installed to prevent blockages or even repeated strokes. The importance of efficient prevention is key to rapid recovery. If treated too late, it may lead to paralysis.
For high-risk patients, health screening is a priority. In the case of varicose veins, for example, a woman over 30 years old, who is overweight, has gone through multiple pregnancies, and has a job that requires her to stand on her feet for a long time. Likewise, patients with a hereditary or family history of diabetes, hypertension, strokes, or heart attacks. Screening can be done with an initial diagnosis, then an ultrasound. If there are any suspicious results, this can be followed by a CT scan and other methods.
The types of equipment provided by Premier Bintaro Hospital, include a CT Angiography which is used to produce detailed images of both blood vessels and tissues in various parts of the body. An MRA (Magnetic Resonance Angiography) is used to produce detailed images of arteries to evaluate them for stenosis, occlusions, aneurysms, or other abnormalities. In cases of abnormalities, the following procedure is Cath Lab (Catheterization Laboratory), an examination room in the hospital with diagnostic imaging equipment used to visualize the arteries and chambers of the heart and treat any stenosis or abnormalities, including in parts of the heart, brain, carotid artery, hands, and feet. Another advanced equipment available is the IVUS (Intravascular Ultrasound), an imaging test that creates images of the heart and blood vessels from the inside of the body.
The importance of health screening awareness needs to be encouraged and emphasized more often to the public, especially the risks of brain aneurysms and strokes. Even though supported by latest technology, tools, and types of equipment, it does not always guarantee the success of patient treatments. For instance, in a patient with a brain aneurysm, the risk of death is high, but, if detected early, then the chance of survival or recovery rate is high, reaching up to 90%. In the case of a stroke, once a patient suffers a stroke, they may struggle to carry out normal activities when compared to life prior to the attack.
