Frankfurt (Oder), Germany -- Klinikum Frankfurt (Oder) opened a new hybrid operating room on Aug. 31, 2026, backed by roughly 6 million euros in investment, RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG announced. The facility, one of five hospitals in the Rhön-Klinikum network, will serve as the primary site for vascular surgery and cardiology teams treating complex vascular and cardiac cases across eastern Brandenburg. Hospital managing director Christian Petersen and chief medical officer Prof. Richter-Ehrenstein presented the room as a step toward offering high-end interventional procedures rarely available outside specialized centers.
Imaging and Surgery Merge Into a Single Operating Suite
The hybrid OR combines a standard operating theater with high-performance imaging equipment, allowing surgeons to visualize vessels, organs and implants in real time during a procedure. Diagnostics and treatment now happen in one location, letting clinicians perform complex interventions with greater precision and, in many cases, through minimally invasive access rather than open surgery. If a minimally invasive procedure requires conversion to open surgery, staff can respond immediately without transferring the patient to a separate room, combining interventional and open surgical techniques in a single session.
Vascular Surgery and Cardiology Share the New Suite
Petersen described the room as more than a space with advanced technology, calling it a commitment to patient safety, full use of medical capabilities and interdisciplinary collaboration. Richter-Ehrenstein said the combination of high-precision imaging and surgical capability opens new treatment options for complex vascular and cardiac procedures, noting that few centers nationwide offer this level of specialized interventional care.
Project Timeline Ran From 2023 Planning to 2026 Completion
Initial planning for the hybrid OR began in 2023. After extensive consultations with hospital staff and revisions to multiple design options, the board approved the project and awarded contracts in October 2024, allowing detailed planning to begin. A prerequisite was relocating the hospital's septic operating room, which was completed in a new area at the end of January 2026. Construction of the hybrid OR began immediately afterward.
Six-Million-Euro Project Draws on Multiple Internal Teams
The total project investment reached approximately 6 million euros. Petersen thanked staff from medicine, nursing, technical services, operating room teams, facility management, administration, procurement and project management, along with external planners, architects, engineers and contractors, for their work on the project.