Donors Make the Difference in how Care is Received
LONDON, Ontario - London Health Sciences Centre is the first hospital in North America to have a robotic-arm neuro-angiogram machine in an operating room. The Zeego, manufactured by Siemens, is a floor-mounted neuro-angiogram machine designed to take images during surgery.
Says Dr. Steve Lownie, Neurosurgeon and Co-chair, Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences (CNS), “By generating 3D images during surgery, the intra-operative neuro-angiogram machine helps patients experience a safer and more seamless surgery resulting in less trauma and shorter recovery time.”
The Zeego will allow surgeons to accelerate treatment decisions while in the OR suite, as patients will no longer have to be moved to another hospital area for a neuro-angiogram since imaging that would have previously been taken after surgery can now be done during surgery. The 3D imaging and robotic-arm allow the Zeego to be spun-around, to provide numerous angles by which to take and view an x-ray. The robotic-arm also extends out of the operating field, when not needed, and can be brought back into the operating field when images are necessary.
The Zeego machine has been in use at LHSC since January 2009 and has been used on four patients.
"This represents a decade of work that has brought research and innovation to direct patient care. We are fortunate to have this equipment and these services available to our patients at LHSC,” says Neil Johnson, Integrated Vice President, Medicine Services.
The cost for the Zeego and the renovations to accommodate this new capability is $2.173 million. The hospital provided $750,000 from capital commitment funds and London Health Sciences Foundation provided $1.423 million from donations, including money raised by the annual Great Drake golf tournament.
“Donor-supported resources, like state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, allow LHSC to provide cutting-edge treatments and outstanding care,” says London Health Sciences Foundation president and CEO Dan Ross. “It is our donors’ generosity that makes these critical initiatives possible. It simply doesn’t happen without them.”
For more information:
Rachelle Wood
Communications Consultant
London Health Sciences Centre
519 685-8500 ext.77642
Rachelle.wood@lhsc.on.ca