Professor Sherif A H Sultan MD FRCS FACS PhD

Professor Sherif A H Sultan MD FRCS FACS PhD Professor of Vascular Surgery , Chairman of Western Vascular Institute, ISVS President

Pioneering Vascular & Endovascular Surgeon, Inventor and Consultant Vascular & Endovascular Surgery

Twenty-Five Years of Aortic Excellence in the West of IrelandA quarter of a century ago, in 2001, our team performed the...
25/06/2026

Twenty-Five Years of Aortic Excellence in the West of Ireland

A quarter of a century ago, in 2001, our team performed the first successful Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR) in Galway, using a Fortron Cordis stent-graft. This week we celebrate the Silver Jubilee of that landmark — and the most compelling proof of its success is not a number, but a person.

What makes this anniversary all the more remarkable is that the same three consultants who performed that very first case in 2001 stand together again today, 25 years on, still working side by side in the same angiosuite — a continuity of team, skill and dedication that few centres anywhere can claim.

That very first patient remains alive and well today, a full 25 years on, without a single reintervention since his index procedure. The Fortron Cordis device has long since retired from clinical use — but the outcome it helped deliver has endured the test of time. The graft is gone; the result remains.

Over the past 25 years, our team has performed more than 2,350 aortic interventions, establishing one of the most experienced and complete aortic programmes in these islands. From standard EVAR to branched and hybrid repair of the most complex thoraco-abdominal pathology, and across the full continuum of carotid and peripheral vascular disease, our hybrid angiosuite remains a centre where state-of-the-art endovascular and open surgical expertise are delivered side by side — every week, for every patient who needs it.

Pictured (left to right): Prof. Kevin Clarkson, Consultant Surgeon and Medical Director of the Galway Clinic; Prof. Sherif Sultan, Professor and Master of Vascular & Endovascular Surgery; and Dr. Masoud Ewan, Consultant Anaesthesiologist — the same three consultants who together performed Galway’s first EVAR in 2001.

This Jubilee belongs to the entire multidisciplinary team. It reflects 25 years of dedication, technical mastery, and the unwavering ability to deliver world-class, state-of-the-art intervention at University Hospital Galway and the Galway Clinic, Blackrock Health Group.

Here’s to the next 25 years — and to every patient who places their trust in our care.

Redefining the Aortic Arch in Galway: Fifty C-TAG endografts; An Extraordinary Evolution in Aortic Intervention.I am pro...
19/05/2026

Redefining the Aortic Arch in Galway: Fifty C-TAG endografts; An Extraordinary Evolution in Aortic Intervention.

I am proud to share that our Aortic Team at of Galway and University Hospitals has reached a remarkable milestone — the implantation of our 50th C-TAG thoracic endograft for aortic dissection since its introduction in early 2023.

The modern management of complex aortic disease demands far more than a device alone. Adapting the C-TAG platform to the harsh and hostile anatomy of the aortic arch — combined with meticulous hybrid arch surgical debranching — has enabled durable reconstruction while securing the best possible outcome.

I have always believed in the dedicated multidisciplinary Aortic Team approach, where the gold-standard principles of open surgical reconstruction are seamlessly integrated with state-of-the-art endovascular technologies. This milestone is a testament to that philosophy.

Galway continues to stand at the forefront of complex aortic intervention — pioneering advanced work in the aortic arch, thoracoabdominal reconstruction, hybrid surgery, branched and fenestrated endovascular repair, and complex dissection management.

The strength of our programme lies not only in technical excellence, but in the collaboration between vascular surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, anaesthesia, radiology, intensive care, specialist nursing, physiologists, and industry innovation.

our Aortic Team from right to left:

1. Cathal Kenny
2. Henri Bartolozzi
3. Shona Dirrane
4. Edison Tavera
5. Harish Wilson
6. Sherif Sultan
7. Leo Kevin
8. Katie Weir
9. Eamon Coffey
10. Mohammed Modawi
11. Hima Fraij
12. Abubaker Ahmed
13. Sachiko Buaquen
14. Shadin Abdalkareem
15. Anwar Gowey
16. Sissy Tsapara

The future of aortic surgery is not open or endovascular alone. The future is integrated hybrid approach.

A Milestone in Modern Carotid Care – 100 TCAR Procedures with Flow ReversalAt the state-of-the-art Endovascular Unit, Un...
07/04/2026

A Milestone in Modern Carotid Care – 100 TCAR Procedures with Flow Reversal

At the state-of-the-art Endovascular Unit, University Hospital Galway & Galway Clinic , we mark a significant clinical and technical milestone — the successful completion of 100 TransCarotid Artery Revascularisation (TCAR) procedures with flow reversal.

This achievement reflects not volume alone, but precision, discipline, and a steadfast commitment to advancing cerebrovascular care.

Under the leadership of Professor Sherif Sultan, the vascular team at the University of Galway continues to push the boundaries of contemporary carotid intervention. TCAR with flow reversal — originally pioneered by Juan Parodi — has evolved into a refined and highly specialised technique, particularly in the management of redo carotid interventions and high-risk symptomatic patients.

With the evolving evidence base, including insights from CREST II, patient awareness and demand for carotid stenting continue to grow. Our practice remains measured and evidence-driven:
carotid stenting is selectively offered to high-risk cohorts, particularly those with recurrent stenosis or anatomical complexity, where open surgery carries increased risk.

The integration of advanced platforms such as the XACT tapered closed-cell stent from Abbott, alongside embolic protection through flow reversal, has transformed procedural safety and outcomes. Continued innovation — including next-generation devices such as CGuard — ensures that carotid intervention remains a dynamic and forward-moving field.

This milestone belongs to a team defined by technical excellence, resilience, and unity:

From right to left in the photo:
Ms Litsuvi Krocha
Dr Henri Bartolozzi
Ms Dolly George
Mr John Mathew
Prof Sherif Sultan
Ms Fiona Harte
Dr Lauren Walsh
Mr Alan Fennessy
Ms Maja Melińska
Dr Sissy Tsapara
Dr Abubaker Ahemed

A quiet moment of pride — earned through discipline, not declared.

Irish First: Redefining Dialysis Access with the Super HeRO Graft at University Hospital GalwayThe Super HeRO graft offe...
24/03/2026

Irish First: Redefining Dialysis Access with the Super HeRO Graft at University Hospital Galway

The Super HeRO graft offers a durable and elegant solution, restoring reliable long-term venous access where conventional approaches fail.

At University Hospital Galway, this milestone reflects not only adoption of new technology, but the disciplined application of endovascular precision and surgical craftsmanship.

Prof Sherif Sultan, an early adopter and consistent innovator in complex vascular access, demonstrated the integration of endovascular mastery with meticulous operative technique. This is where modern vascular surgery finds its edge — not merely in devices, but in the hands that deploy them.

Importantly, the Super HeRO graft enables haemodialysis through a system that avoids the traditional infection burden associated with prosthetic graft cannulation, as access is achieved via the native arteriovenous fistula. This represents a meaningful advance in both patient safety and long-term access durability.

Behind this success stands a highly coordinated vascular team at University Hospital Galway — a group defined by technical excellence, cohesion, and an uncompromising commitment to patient outcomes. Their work reflects the highest standard of contemporary vascular practice.

The team, from front to back in the accompanying images:

Dr Sissy Tsatara
Ms Rincy John
Dr Anwar Gowey
Dr Henri Bartolozzi
Dr Abubakar Ahammed
Ms Fhiley Lazo
Mr Donal Doherty
Ms Olive Spence
Prof Sherif Sultan
Dr Tudor Zaltan
Mr Harish Wilson
Mr John Mathew
Ms Kyna Lyndon
Mr Eamon Coffey

This is what progress looks like — precise, collaborative, and patient-centred.

A HISTORIC MILESTONE FOR IRELAND & THE VASCULAR COMMUNITY Today marks a defining moment in Irish surgical history. Prof....
10/03/2026

A HISTORIC MILESTONE FOR IRELAND & THE VASCULAR COMMUNITY
Today marks a defining moment in Irish surgical history. Prof. Sherif Sultan — Master of Endovascular Technology — and his elite Aortic Strong Team at University Hospital Galway have performed the first GORE® TAMBE procedure in Ireland, and only the second in the British Isles following the UK.
This achievement mirrors a legacy 30 years in the making: Prof. Sultan performed the first successful Irish EVAR in Dublin, and today, he writes the next chapter.

Behind this milestone stands a multidisciplinary team of exceptional surgeons, anaesthetists, theatre nurses, radiologists and vascular scientists who train relentlessly and perform at the highest international standard. This is a team that does not wait for the world to come to Galway — they bring world firsts to Galway. Their daily commitment to complex aortic work — branched, and thoracoabdominal endovascular repair — positions University Hospital Galway among the elite aortic centres in Europe and globally.
Gore Medical congratulates Prof. Sultan and the entire Aortic Strong Team at Galway on this extraordinary Irish launch milestone.
As Prof. Sultan states: “Treating a thoracoabdominal aneurysm through a keyhole technique is a revelation. Using Gore technology — the same material that equips NASA — is a breakthrough for vascular patients everywhere.”
This is what elite, world-class aortic surgery looks like. Galway leads. Ireland leads.

The Team; From Right to left Pleas add this names as member of the the strong aortic team from left to right ; Dr Abubaker Ahammed, Dr Sissy Tsatara, Dr Lyuboslava Tomova, Miss Anna McHale, Miss Niamh MC Grath, Miss Stacey Oliver, Mr Peter Van Gendt, Prof Leo Kevin, Prof Sherif Sultan, Ms Kaite Weir, Dr Manal Hussain, Ms Taylor Murphy, Mr Nathan Woods, Mr Harish Wilson, Dr Henri Bartolozzi, Mr Anwar Gowey, Dr Mohammed Mondawi

02/03/2026

THE DEBATE OF THE CENTURY — TED CONGRESS SUMMIT, PHOENIX, ARIZONA
Prof Sherif Sultan deployed supercomputer AI agents with high-stakes analytical capability, “Elicit, Scite, Undermined and DeepMind Health” at the TED Congress Summit to confront Key Opinion Leaders with an unassailable truth: there is NO strong scientific evidence for statins in primary prevention in healthy people. Prof Sultan won the debate by miles — the evidence was overwhelming and irrefutable.
Primary prevention means treating people with NO existing heart disease. On what basis are we medicating healthy individuals with drugs that carry devastating risks and deliver negligible absolute benefit?
THE STATISTICAL DECEPTION — RRR vs ARR EXPOSED
Multinational pharma has systematically used Relative Risk Reduction (RRR) to inflate benefits while burying Absolute Risk Reduction (ARR) — brainwashing physicians through statistical manipulation:
· JUPITER: 54% RRR headline — actual ARR just 0.41%. NNT = 500 for ONE year
· ASCOT-LLA: 36% RRR — ARR only 1.1%. Zero benefit in women
· JAMA 2022 (21 RCTs): All-cause mortality ARR = 0.8% — reported as 9% RRR
Doctors have been shielded from the truth. This ends now.

Zero RCT evidence for cardiovascular outcomes. Zero long-term safety data on growth, puberty, or development. Medicating children with an unproven drug class is indefensible.
POST-MENOPAUSAL WOMEN: 1 IN 2 RISK OF DIABETES
The Women’s Health Initiative showed 48% increased diabetes risk after statin initiation. The Korean NHIE Study, 90% increased risk — dose and duration dependent. The Lancet 2024 confirmed it across ALL statin trials.
FDA confirmed a 10,000-fold increase in ALS reporting with statins. VigiBase identifies statins as the most frequently reported suspected cause of ALS among ALL drugs. Reporting Odds Ratios: 9x (Rosuvastatin) to 107x (Lovastatin). Healthy people are being given a drug linked to incurable neurodegenerative disease — and they are NOT being told.
The deception is exposed. The harm to women, the elderly, and children is documented. Time for transparency and protecting healthy people.

01/03/2026

A Historic First in Vascular Science
At the TED Vascular Congress 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona, Prof Sherif Sultan achieved a breakthrough first in the international vascular arena. For the first time in the history of the Techniques in Endovascular & Digital Vascular Surgery (TED) Congress, a full scientific presentation was delivered entirely via AI-powered quantum supercomputing — not PowerPoint, not Keynote.
Every slide was built using Lovable AI, a live, online supercomputer that writes code in real time. The presentation is not a static file — it is a living, updating, interactive web application that evolves as new data emerges.
The audience response was extraordinary. This is the future of scientific communication.

Our AI and machine learning predictive models reveal a structural crisis in vascular surgery that cannot be ignored:
🔴 Manpower Crisis is Imminent — Vascular surgeon shortages of 28% by 2030 and 17% by 2040 are forecast globally.
🔴 Surgeons Cannot Work Harder — At a median of 8,481 wRVUs/year, vascular surgeons are already at maximum human capacity. Demand will exceed this ceiling by 31–42%.
🔴 Remuneration Must Increase by 65% — Current wRVU compensation models are unsustainable. Without a 65% increase, recruitment and retention will collapse.
🔴 Public Practice is Dying — By 2053, private sector volumes will exceed public by 38× in peripheral, 21× in carotid, and 4.4× in aortic interventions.
🔴 The Future of Vascular Surgery is in Private Practice — This is not an opinion. This is what the data shows. The public system is not declining — it is being structurally replaced.

AI integration, strategic workforce reform, and radical care redesign are no longer optional — they are survival imperatives.

28/02/2026

Honored to have delivered a State-of-the-Art lecture at the TED Vascular Congress 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona:
“Physiology Before Plumbing: Microvascular Recruitment With ArtAssist & Disciplined Use of DVAR in No-Option Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischaemia — How to Avoid DVAR Storm”

DVAR (Deep Venous Arterialization) represents both an immense opportunity and a storm of complications when applied without discipline.
Surgical DVAR wins on all fronts: a simple, safe, and reproducible option that requires no complex endovascular hardware, championing capillary bed recruitment through the superficial dorsal Lejars’ plantar venous sole and the deep medial and lateral plantar veins.

The TED Congress is rapidly becoming the epicentre of vascular innovation in the South West United States, uniting world-class key opinion leaders at the Royal Palms Resort & Spa, Phoenix. The landscape of vascular thought leadership is in flux — and congresses like TED are driving the conversation forward with live case-based learning, debates, and state-of-the-art lectures that challenge the status quo.

Grateful to the TED Congress organisers for the platform and to colleagues worldwide for the continued discourse on saving no-option limbs.

ESVES Enterpriseireland

Today marked a defining moment for advanced endovascular therapy in Ireland as we launched the AcoArt™ ORCHID Drug-Coate...
11/12/2025

Today marked a defining moment for advanced endovascular therapy in Ireland as we launched the AcoArt™ ORCHID Drug-Coated Balloon technology at the state-of-the-art Endovascular Unit in the Blackrock Health Group Galway Clinic.

It was an honour to introduce Boston Scientific’s UK–Ireland AcoArt™ ORCHID platform in collaboration with Mr Philip Whelan, Senior Regional Clinical Manager at Boston Scientific. After completing a complex bilateral lower-limb revascularisation, I reflected on how profoundly this disruptive technology will reshape the management of advanced femoropopliteal disease.

The AcoArt™ ORCHID balloon represents a thoughtful evolution of drug-eluting therapy. By addressing the limitations of first-generation standalone DEBs, this technology employs a lipophilic excipient—magnesium stearate—to optimise targeted, efficient delivery of paclitaxel into the lesion. This refined coating improves tissue uptake, reduces drug loss, and enhances durability. It also draws on a proven safety profile, with magnesium stearate long established as a GRAS agent widely used in pharmaceutical formulation.

With balloon lengths up to 300 mm, the ORCHID platform provides full-segment SFA coverage in a single inflation at 12 atmospheres for five minutes, bringing real-world practicality to the management of long TASC C and D occlusions.

Technology is now advancing at a pace that outstrips earlier trial frameworks. BASIL-3, for example, reflects an era of bygone DCB design; ORCHID™ signals where the field is truly heading.

My thanks to the Galway Clinic team, Boston Scientific, and all colleagues committed to advancing vascular care in Ireland. Together, we continue to push the boundaries of what is possible for our patients.


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Galway Clinic
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