TMH Offers Comprehensive Care for Patients With Complex Vascular Needs
Patients requiring complex vascular surgeries now have access to a dedicated, multispecialty team at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH). This team, part of TMH Physician Partners, Services by Southern Medical Group, is located on the main campus and includes internal medicine physicians, cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons and, most recently, highly accomplished vascular surgeons.
“We collaborate across specialties to provide a full range of vascular surgeries that previously might have required patients to seek care elsewhere,” said Robert W. Heidepriem III, MD, a vascular surgeon with TMH Physician Partners, Services by Southern Medical Group. “We may be one of the first groups in the country to integrate internal medicine, cardiothoracic surgery, cardiology and vascular surgery under one umbrella. This allows seamless referrals and collaborative care within the practice.”
TMH’s vascular surgery offerings include:
- carotid endarterectomy;
- transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR);
- endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms;
- femoral popliteal bypass and revascularization; and
- bypass graft surgery.
Dr. Heidepriem highlighted TCAR as a minimally invasive procedure involving a smaller incision, reduced risk for nerve injury, and less need for anesthesia compared with traditional surgery. To further minimize stroke risk, TCAR temporarily reverses blood flow in the carotid artery, diverting debris away from the brain.
“TCAR has a stroke rate comparable to open surgery,” Dr. Heidepriem explained.
For abdominal aortic aneurysms, TMH offers endovascular stent grafting as an alternative to open surgery.
Vascular surgeon Robert Heidepriem, MD, and team perform a Barostim implant.
“Patients can often return home the same day or the next day, with minimal postoperative pain and a quicker recovery,” Dr. Heidepriem noted.
Other procedures, such as femoral popliteal bypass, address stenosis or occlusions in leg vessels, providing relief from claudication, peripheral arterial disease and critical limb ischemia.
TMH also offers innovative therapies, including Barostim (CVRx), an implantable device approved by the FDA for advanced congestive heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. This neuromodulation technology stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, improving heart efficiency and alleviating symptoms.1
“Patients experience significant improvements in daily activities, breathing and exercise capacity,” said Dr. Heidepriem.
Additionally, TMH’s multidisciplinary team actively participates in clinical trials for novel devices, such as drug-coated stents and atherectomy catheters, ensuring access to leading-edge technologies.
For patients with lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT), the practice employs advanced catheter-based techniques with thrombolytics to remove clots and alleviate strain on the heart.
“This approach allows us to relieve the thrombus burden and improve patient outcomes—all through minimally invasive procedures,” Dr. Heidepriem emphasized.
Reference
- Coats AJS, Abraham WT, Zile MR, et al. Baroreflex activation therapy with the Barostim™ device in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: a patient level meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Eur J Heart Fail. 2022;24(9):1665-1673.
Barostim™ is a trademark of CVRx and is used with permission.
Research and Clinical Trials
Our heart and vascular team has been conducting research at TMH for more than 20 years, participating in over 150 trials.
Information on these studies can be found on our clinical trials page. To refer or inquire about our heart and vascular trials, contact our partners at the Tallahassee Research Institute, Inc. at 850-431-5024.
Our Location
Heart Care +2 more
TMH Physician Partners, Services by Southern Medical Group – Vascular Surgery
1401 Centerville Road Suite 504, Azalea Building - Tallahassee, FL 32308
