The Vascular Program at McLeod has led the region in innovations and care for vascular patients. Led by Director, Dr. Christopher Cunningham, the program includes a dedicated vascular surgical team that is on call after hours for the handling of emergent cases

Dr. Cunningham is highly experienced in minimally invasive procedures such as endovascular grafting for abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. This method involves a catheter through a groin artery into the abdominal aorta. The graft, via the catheter is inserted into the aneurysm to protect it from rupturing or continuing to grow. Most patients are up and walking that evening of their surgery and go home the next day.

McLeod Regional Medical Center is a recognized approved facility for carotid artery stenting. Our first carotid artery stenting procedure at McLeod was performed in March 2001. Only a vascular surgeon is authorized to determine whether a patient is a candidate for the surgical or stenting repair.

In 2006, Dr. Cunningham performed an exceedingly specialized minimally invasive iliac endarterectomy on a patient whose superficial femoral artery was one hundred percent occluded. This surgery was the first of its kind in the area. The outcomes were extremely successful, safe and required minimal recovery time.

Previously, for patients who had totally occluded iliacs in which angioplasty was not an option, their only alternative was a more invasive surgery. This surgery involved three incisions, one of which would be about 18 inches in length, a five day hospital stay and a six to eight week recovery period.

The McLeod Vascular Program also includes an ICAVL certified non-invasive laboratory. In January 2009, McLeod achieved their second reaccreditation.

Grand Round Outcomes Book