Emerge Stronger is a $10 million campaign to fund more than 200 pieces of equipment—equipment like the O-Arm Imaging System. By donating to Emerge Stronger, you are supporting hospital services impacted by the pandemic, advancing local care to keep patients close to home, and transforming care through research and innovation.
O-Arm Imaging System
Needed 1 @ $318,000
Area of Care Neurosurgery
Location Victoria General Hospital
Campaign Emerge Stronger
Campaign Focus Area Local Care
Learn More About the O-Arm Imaging System
The addition of an O-Arm to Victoria General Hospital (VGH) would be a first for Vancouver Island, advancing neurosurgery locally and keeping complex brain and spinal surgery patients close to home. The O-Arm will provide precise, real-time imaging for surgeons operating on patients undergoing spinal, cranial, or neurological trauma-related surgery.
Operated by an X-ray technician, this mobile system fits over the surgical table and provides detailed internal images that are interpreted by a surgeon. It will enable surgeons to provide safer and more accurate placement of spinal instruments. Having this system available to local care teams has the potential to reduce the invasiveness of procedures and shorten recovery times, resulting in improved patient outcomes. Up to 50 neurosurgery patients per month from across Vancouver Island will benefit from the new O-Arm at Victoria General Hospital.
Where the O-Arm Will Be Used in Our Hospitals
VGH is home to 14 Surgical Services Operating Rooms (OR) and two Labour & Delivery ORs. Over 4,500 inpatient and over 4,000 outpatient surgeries are performed at the hospital, annually. VGH specializes in surgeries for neurology, gynecology, pediatrics and trauma. The OR team includes registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, surgeons (of numerous specialties), anaesthesiologists, anesthesia assistants, respiratory therapists, X-Ray technicians, general practitioner assistants, perioperative care aids, equipment attendants, medical device reprocessing core aids, housekeepers, and stores assistants.
As there are many types of surgery performed in the operating rooms, the equipment needs are extensive. Pieces of equipment in the OR include ultrasounds, laparoscopic instruments for minimally invasive surgery, retractor systems, drills and saws for joint replacements, monitoring systems, gastroscopes, C-arms for surgical X-Rays as well as several types of scopes and cameras. The number of team members present during a surgery will depend on the difficulty and length of the surgery. The operating rooms, which run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, are located on the third floor of the hospital.