Vascular surgery returns to Keesler Published Sept. 28, 2010 By Steve Pivnick 81st Medical Group Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- A vital service has returned to the 81st Medical Group Hospital. Vascular surgeon Maj. (Dr.) Michael Hogan, 81st Surgical Operations Squadron, has brought his specialty back to Keesler following a five-year absence. Vascular surgery has been unavailable here since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Coast and the hospital. Until then, three vascular surgeons served the Keesler community. Major Hogan also returns to Keesler, the site of his year general surgery residency from 2000-2005. In fact, he was a member of the last surgery residency class to graduate before the storm. Marking a milestone, on Sept. 8 Major Hogan and his team performed the first endovascular aortic aneurism repair procedure since before Katrina. The procedure involved placing a stent into the aorta, the main artery from the heart, via a catheter inserted into a vein through a needle hole in the groin. The patient went home within two days. The doctor noted that in the past - and sometimes currently -- this was major surgery requiring opening the abdomen to repair the aorta followed by a hospital stay of at least two weeks. "This condition is a dangerous dilation ("ballooning") of the aorta, the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S.," Major Hogan observed. The major, who arrived here in mid-July, performed his first surgery in August. The vascular surgery team completed 10 cases the first full week of September. "Hopefully, we will soon hit our stride and do an increasing number of procedures," he said. "We perform repairs of the thoracic and abdominal aorta, all aspects of peripheral vascular treatment -- both endovascular and open surgery -- as well as treat cerebral (extra-cranial) vascular issues. We also take care of peripheral vascular disease in people with blood clots, gangrene, tissue loss, rest pain and acute and chronic venous disease. In addition, we place IVC (inferior vena cava, the large vein leading to the heart) filters and dialysis access in patients." The team -- vascular nurse 1st Lt. Aimee McLaurin and senior surgery resident Capt. (Dr.) Chad Edwards -- also do cases in conjunction with interventional cardiologist Lt. Col. (Dr.) Steven Kindsvater, 81st Medical Operations Squadron. Major Hogan said most of the people he treats are older, although he does have younger dialysis patients. He also treats military veterans as the result of sharing agreements with the Biloxi Veterans Affairs Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System hospital. He is obtaining credentials to perform surgery at that facility as well. The major also anticipates serving the returning residents of the new Gulfport Armed Forces Retirement Home. Major Hogan stated, "We are open for business and available for evaluations and to answer questions. We can handle most of the scope of the vascular practice here. For those procedures we can't perform, we will ensure patients get to someone who can."