Delray Beach resident Patricia Kittredge was one of the first patients to have a procedure done in the new Walter S. and Lucienne Driskill Endovascular Center at Bethesda Memorial Hospital, which opened Aug. 5.

Kittredge suffered from leg pain and had difficulty walking long distances.

She said she kept putting the pain aside thinking the symptoms would one day disappear.

Kiswana Russell, the hospital's spokeswoman, said the leg pain remained persistent so she sought medical attention from Bethesda physician Dr. George Mueller, who recommended that she undergo a minimally invasive procedure.

Surgeons performed an aortogram, three angioplasties and three stent placements in the arteries of both of Kittredge’s legs.

Kittredge said she had no problems with the procedure and now has no trouble walking.

The Walter S. and Lucienne Driskill Endovascular Center is a new center that allows surgeons to care for patients with vascular problems, using minimally invasive procedures.

With new minimally invasive techniques, patients will be able to receive a superior level of care, with less discomfort and shorter recovery times.

Russell said the goal of the center is to shift from conventional open operations to catheter-based surgical interventions.

Mike Rothman can be reached at mkrothman@tribune.com.