Endoscopy bypass breakthrough in California:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
A surgeon in San Ramon, California, has performed what is claimed to be the first-ever endoscopic bypass operation. Dr Carlos Garcia succeeded in by-passing a blocked artery by introducing a probe incorporating a miniature camera into the patient's leg. The 67 year-old patient was able to leave hospital four days later. Without endoscopy, a 30 cm incision would have had to be made in the leg to expose the artery. Dr Garcia described the operation as "a breakthrough for bypass surgery ... which could help thousands of patients".