Expert Surgical Care Here in Westchester
Northwell performs highly complex, specialized surgery in Westchester in fields including neurosurgery, surgical oncology, colorectal surgery and orthopedic surgery–so patients can get the expert care they need, right here in Westchester. In fact, Northern Westchester Hospital is a Robotic Surgery Center of Excellence, and both Phelps and Northern Westchester Hospitals provide expertly coordinated care in their respective orthopedic surgery practices.
Dr. Aditya Rachakonda, a vascular surgeon at both Phelps Hospital and Northern Westchester Hospital, shares a deeper dive into our vascular surgery program right here in Westchester.
Surgical Innovation Close to Home
Trained at Northwell’s own Lenox Hill Hospital, a pioneer in integrated vascular surgery, Dr. Rachakonda mastered both traditional open surgeries and the newer endovascular techniques that rely on catheters rather than large incisions. These minimally invasive approaches represent the future of the field, allowing surgeons to tackle complex problems in older and more frail patients with significantly less trauma to the body. “We can now fix problems that once required major open surgery, often sending patients home the next day,” he explains.
Thankfully, these procedures can now be done close to home. “It’s rare today that we need to send someone into the city,” he says. “Between Northern Westchester and Phelps, we have the imaging capabilities, the advanced procedure spaces, and the team collaboration to treat conditions that used to be considered too complex for community hospitals.”
Breakthroughs in Practice
One recent patient, diagnosed with a massive aneurysm deemed “inoperable” elsewhere, came to Dr. Rachakonda for a second opinion. Using the advanced catheterization suite at Phelps Hospital, Dr. Rachakonda was able to thread a tiny catheter into the aneurysm, cut off blood flow with precision-placed coils, and send the patient home the very next day.
Another patient with head and neck cancer, whose prior surgeries and radiation left scar tissue and heightened risks, was facing a dangerous carotid artery blockage. Traditionally, this would have meant an invasive surgery. Instead, Dr. Rachakonda performed a TCAR, a minimally invasive technique once reserved only for major academic medical centers, at Phelps Hospital, restoring blood flow safely and sparing the patient a longer recovery and post-operative complications.
“These cases reflect the new paradigm,” he says. “We’re combining state-of-the-art imaging, minimally invasive techniques, and the collective expertise of Northwell’s vast network—all right here in our community.”
Collaboration at Its Core
Dr. Rachakonda is quick to point out that medicine is still collaborative. Vascular surgeons work side by side with cardiologists, podiatrists, internists, and radiologists to treat the full spectrum of conditions. This coordination extends across the entire Northwell system: a video call with a colleague at Lenox Hill Hospital in the morning, a joint case review with a local cardiologist in the afternoon. “We’re keeping physicians at the cutting edge, sharing knowledge in real time, and ensuring our patients get the best outcomes,” he says.
“It still feels like a true community hospital,” Dr. Rachakonda reflects. “But now, with Northwell’s resources, it’s a community hospital with world-class capabilities.”
A Community Gift
For Dr. Rachakonda, who lives in Scarsdale with his wife, a Northwell breast imaging radiologist, and Chief of Women’s Imaging in Westchester, the work is personal. “We’re raising our family here, and we want our neighbors, family, and friends to have the very best care.”
Vascular surgery hinges on precision, timing, and advanced tools—and with the breadth of surgical capabilities right here in Westchester, Northwell brings advanced care to the community.