In this episode, we explore a major medical milestone for our region with Dr. David Blitzer. Alongside Dr. Li Sheng Kong and the specialized team at Community Memorial Hospital - Ventura, they recently performed the first-ever Thoracoabdominal Branch Endoprosthesis (TAMBE) procedure in Ventura County. This marks a shift in vascular care, allowing surgeons to repair complex, life-threatening aortic aneurysms through a single small incision rather than the traditional, high-risk open surgeries of the past.
We dive into the technical precision required for this procedure, where a failing previous repair left a patient at imminent risk of rupture. Dr. Blitzer explains how this groundbreaking technology restores vital blood flow while keeping world-class, university-level intervention right here in our community. Join us to learn how Community Memorial Healthcare is leading the way as the only facility in the county offering this cutting-edge solution for complex aortic disease.
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Revolutionizing Vascular Surgery: The First TAMBE Procedure in Ventura County
David Blitzer, MD | Li Sheng Kong, MD
Dr. Blitzer graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of South Carolina followed by two years of advanced research at the National Institutes of Health. After that, he earned his Doctorate of Medicine from Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Jersey before completing General Surgery Residency at MedStar Health in Baltimore and Vascular Surgery Fellowship at the University of Maryland. Dr. Blitzer has over 25 publications in peer-reviewed journals and book chapters and has given national talks on his vascular research. Dr. Blitzer has a patient-centered philosophy to vascular care. He is skilled in both open and minimally invasive endovascular interventions and tailors his approach based on the individual patient.
Learn more about David Blitzer, MD
Dr. Kong is a highly trained vascular surgeon with advanced endovascular skills. Dr. Kong received a Bachelor of Arts from John Hopkins University and Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Tennessee. Prior to completing his vascular and endovascular fellowship at Emory University he completed his General Surgery Residency at Tulane University School of Medicine. Belonging to the Society of Vascular Surgery, Dr. Kong has written over one dozen manuscripts in endovascular procedures. In addition, he has helped to build programs that reflect ongoing changes in the treatment of vascular disease, such as minimally invasive stent grafts for thoracic aneurysms, carotid stenting, and advanced venous therapy.