HOSPITAL NEWS First Transoral Robotic Surgery in Queensland SPRING 2013 TRW 5 World-first dose tracking system launched at St George Private The launch of a world-first radiation dose tracking system at St George Private Hospital in Sydney is set to greatly benefit the rising number of patients requiring vital cardiac interventional procedures, visualising x-rays like never before to facilitate improved patient outcomes and safety standards. Developed by the University of Buffalo in conjunction with Toshiba, the innovative dose tracking system provides real time data on the delivery of radiation during interventional procedures in the form of a colour coded map on the image of a human figure. The intuitive graphic aid highlights, with changing colours, if and when a targeted area of radiation distribution should be immediately changed to ‘spread the skin dose’. This enables doctors to instantaneously monitor and minimise patient radiation exposure and therefore significantly reduce the risk of any skin injury. St George Private Hospital Cardiologist, Dr James Weaver, said the technology will be particularly useful for patients and clinicians undertaking procedures such as stenting for complex coronary artery blockages or abnormal heart rhythms. “People are living longer than ever before and as a result of the ageing population we are increasingly seeing diseases with such as coronary artery disease,” Dr Weaver said. “It may be appropriate for these patients to undergo an interventional procedure, such as the placement Port Macquarie opens new Sleep Unit ENT and Head and Neck Surgeons at Greenslopes Private Hospital are the first in Queensland to perform transoral robotic surgery to remove mouth and throat (oropharyngeal) tumours. Transoral robotic surgery is a new minimally invasive approach performed through the mouth (transorally) providing an alternative to what can be highly invasive surgery and high dose chemoradiation therapy for the diseases of the head and neck. ENT/Head and Neck Surgeon, Dr Sam Dowthwaite performed the first procedure in July at Greenslopes Private Hospital using the da Vinci Surgical System. Dr Dowthwaite said that he is pleased to be able to provide patients with this latest treatment option in Queensland. “For some patients access to robotic surgery will mean they will avoid having major open surgery which can result in prolonged hospital stays and poor speech and swallowing function afterwards,” Dr Dowthwaite said. In transoral robotic surgery, the robot’s precise wrist-like action and tremor filtration allows surgical removal of the tumour by working in multiple directions in tight spaces with the capability to work around corners. Guiding the surgery from the command console, the surgeon uses 3-D imaging and instruments attached to the robotic arms, which improves precision when removing the cancer. “The superior access and precision with using the robot to remove these tumours can also mean patients may not require chemotherapy and radiation treatment following surgery and will also have a faster recovery than with the open procedures,” Dr Dowthwaite said. This is especially important given that a high number of patients now presenting with oropharyngeal (tonsillar) cancers are generally highly functioning young people with lower rates of smoking -related cancers. These cancers are typically related to human papilloma virus (HPV) infections and are highly treatable with good long-term prognosis. A good night’s sleep is just around the corner for many long suffering members of the Port Macquarie community with a brand new sleep unit now opened at Port Macquarie Private Hospital. The unit has been established in recognition of the growing demand for quality, state-of-the- art sleep medicine services on the Mid-North Coast. Ramsay Health Care Port Macquarie Director of Clinical Services Connie Porter said the new unit will improve the accessibility for referring general practitioners and their patients to sleep services. “The incidence of sleep disorders in our community is increasing significantly,” Connie said. “This is due in part to an ageing population and the growing incidence of obesity, while there is also greater awareness in society today of the impact of poor sleep on general health.” The new service will incorporate a full laboratory based diagnostic and therapy sleep unit with allied scientific, nursing and technical staff at Port Macquarie Private Hospital. The service also includes full medical management and review of all adult respiratory and sleep disorders. The centre’s location in the Hastings will relieve many patients from the additional stress and costs involved in travelling to metropolitan centres to access the required level of specialist inpatient sleep services. The first patients to attend the unit complimented the facilities in the Hastings Ward. “They actually reported sleeping quite well and were very happy with the hot breakfast provided in the morning,” Connie said. of a stent into the coronary artery. “This system supplies the additional information necessary to provide both superior image quality and the ability to manage x-ray dose delivery during these longer procedures thereby providing optimal patient care.” St George Private Hospital is the first location to employ the new Toshiba Dose Tracking System, putting it firmly in the spotlight as pioneers in using the latest in diagnostic imaging technology to deliver better outcomes for our community. Dr Weaver said it represented “an exciting new standard for best practice on a global scale”. Director of Clinical Services Connie Porter with Nurse Unit Manager Michelle Pope outside the new Sleep Unit at Macquarie Private Hospital. Photo & Story courtesy Port Macquarie News. Seeing is believing: Dr James Weaver said being the first location to use the system put the hospital “in the spotlight as pioneers.” (photo by John Veage, courtesy St George & Sutherland Shire Leader)
The Ramsay Way Spring 2013
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