First Endovascular Procedures Expand Surgical Capability in Saint Lucia
Inside an operating room at St. Jude Hospital, U.S. Air Force and Saint Lucian surgeons stood shoulder to shoulder around a patient whose treatment options had once been limited by geography and resources.
By the end of the procedure, they had accomplished something never before documented on the island.
During the Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team 2026 mission, a combined U.S. and Saint Lucian surgical team performed the first-known peripheral endovascular intervention procedures in Saint Lucia, introducing a minimally invasive vascular capability designed to restore blood flow, preserve dialysis access and expand future treatment options for patients across the island.
“We don’t currently offer endovascular services here, so it was very beneficial to get these cases done,” said Dr. Charles Greenidge, Saint Lucian general surgeon and president of the Caribbean College of Surgeons. “It’s not open surgery. It’s a minimally invasive approach using wire technology and imaging guidance, usually with X-ray control. This experience encourages us to move further in that direction.”
Unlike traditional open vascular surgery, endovascular procedures allow surgeons to work from inside blood vessels using imaging guidance and small instruments rather than large surgical incisions. The approach can reduce recovery time, lower surgical risk and help preserve treatment options for patients who might otherwise require medical transfer overseas.
For Saint Lucia, the capability addressed a growing medical need.
Vascular surgery was one of the specialties specifically requested by Saint Lucia’s Ministry of Health during LAMAT 2026 as healthcare leaders work to expand advanced surgical care and reduce pressure on the island’s healthcare system.
“One of the needs we identified during previous missions was the ability to save failing dialysis access without having to start over from scratch,” said Lt. Col. AJ Davidson, U.S. Air Force vascular surgeon. “This year, we brought the capability to work from inside the blood vessels using minimally invasive tools to reopen blocked areas and restore blood flow.”
Davidson said the team completed four minimally invasive vascular interventions during the mission, the first peripheral endovascular intervention cases performed in Saint Lucia.
“We were able to bring that capability in a relatively small package while working alongside local surgeons who are interested in sustaining this type of care in the future,” Davidson said. “That continuity between missions is what makes partnerships like this valuable.”
For Davidson, the mission’s lasting impact extended beyond the procedures themselves.
“Honestly, it’s really the people that keep bringing me back,” Davidson said. “The Saint Lucians have been incredibly welcoming, and the relationships we’ve built over the years make this partnership special. It’s truly a two-way exchange where both teams learn from each other while working together to deliver care.”
The procedures also became a hands-on opportunity for knowledge exchange between U.S. and Saint Lucian medical professionals. Local providers worked alongside the surgical team throughout planning, imaging coordination and post-operative care while discussing how similar procedures could potentially become sustainable through future collaboration, training and equipment access.
“One thing we hope to continue is telementoring,” Greenidge said. “Now that some of the basics have been demonstrated, we could potentially continue developing those skills under guidance remotely. We definitely want to keep developing that relationship because it could make a huge difference.”
Beyond the endovascular milestone, the combined team also worked to reduce a growing backlog of dialysis-related procedures on the island.
“The dialysis program is under a lot of pressure,” Greenidge said. “Unfortunately, the number of patients requiring renal replacement therapy continues to increase. There was definitely a need to help some of these patients move away from long-term catheter dialysis and toward fistulas instead.”
During the mission, the surgical team performed multiple vascular access surgeries designed to help patients transition away from long-term dialysis catheters and toward fistulas, which are generally considered safer and more sustainable for long-term treatment.
“If this team had not been here, I still would have performed surgeries, but many of those patients might have remained on catheter dialysis much longer simply because of the backlog,” he added. “Being able to complete a large number of cases in one period of time really helped relieve some of that pressure.”
For Greenidge, the value of the mission extended beyond the operating room.
“I think from a relational standpoint, these engagements are very important,” Greenidge said. “If there were ever a crisis or disaster situation where you had to deploy here, now we would already know how you operate.”
Greenidge said the familiarity built through side-by-side clinical work removes uncertainty and creates confidence between teams who may one day need to respond together during regional emergencies.
“After working together in an environment like this, there’s already trust established,” Greenidge said. “We would feel reassured knowing how you operate and knowing we could work in sync together.”
Reflecting on the partnership throughout the mission, Greenidge said the impact of LAMAT extended far beyond the procedures completed inside the operating room.
“We’re very appreciative of you all coming here,” Greenidge said. “I really can’t overstate how congenial and approachable the group has been. The medical support was important, but the relationships built during missions like this are what leave a lasting impact.”
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