The Checkup Spring 2018 | Page 3

C-ING THE FUTURE :

Mobile C-Arms are the first step to Minimally Invasive Surgical Suites
The Northern Lights Health Foundation and the staff and surgeons at the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre are actively looking to purchase new , non-invasive surgical technologies which will result in multi-purpose surgical suites offering laparoscopic , vascular , endovascular , and endoscopic procedures along with orthopedic surgeries . The Health Foundation intends to raise $ 7.5 million for these Minimally Invasive Surgical Suites project as part of the Gratitude Campaign .
So how can a piece of equipment shaped like a giant C on wheels help to bring us a step closer to the MIS suites ?
A C-Arm is medical imaging device that is based on X-ray technology . C-Arms have radiographic ( regular X-ray ) abilities , but they are used mainly for fluoroscopic ( moving X-ray ) imaging during surgical , orthopedic , critical care , and emergency care procedures . This equipment is crucial to our orthopedic and spinal surgery program .
Thanks to donor funding to the Health Foundation , the surgical department now has two Veradius Neo mobile C-arms . The Veradius Neo was designed together with surgeons from around the world and features a new design to handle patients of all sizes and is much easier to move . It also offers highly adjustable settings to help decrease radiation exposure to patients and staff .
To simplify communication between surgical team members and make it easy to quickly move to a requested position , the C-Arm can be easily set to the desired position and provide high-quality and targeted images . Surgeons can use these clear images to help place screws and other devices with precision .
The C-Arm is mobile to allow it to be removed from the surgical suite or wheeled quickly to another room which allows the hospital to maximize use of the surgery spaces .
While you may never see the various pieces of technology and equipment that are working for you , it ’ s a great comfort to know that through your support , the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre is bringing in the best technology to meet your needs . And when you need a “ transaortic aneurysm repair ” ( heart surgery ), it ’ s great to know the unit offers a high definition view of your anatomy to enable your surgeon to perform his best work !
THE NORTHERN LIGHTS HEALTH FOUNDATION 3