Past Campaign: Behind the Mask – Everyday Miracles

This fall the Victoria Hospitals Foundation is asking the community to help raise $1.8 million for 72 pieces of advanced surgery equipment for the operating rooms at Royal Jubilee and Victoria General hospitals. These tools will benefit 14 different surgical specialties throughout 22 operating rooms at both hospitals– supporting about 52,000 surgeries a year.

Over the past decade, our hospitals have experienced a quiet revolution in care. Surgical teams have introduced a number of more sophisticated and less invasive procedures, which, in turn, have shortened recovery times, decreased hospital stays and improved patient outcomes. These ground-breaking techniques have allowed our surgeons to offer complex procedures and keep patients close to their loved ones. Today, 98% of all surgeries can be done here on Vancouver Island. These leading-edge procedures significantly improve patient outcomes. To ensure our surgeons can advance this revolution in care and continue to offer complex procedures not previously available here at home on Vancouver Island, our hospitals need to be equipped with the best surgical equipment.

A gift to this campaign will equip our surgical teams with the equipment they need to perform revolutionary procedures and ensure patients have the best outcomes possible. Your gift will mean so much to so many, including the medical teams in the 14 surgical specialties below and the patients they serve.

Stories

An Anesthesiologist and His Patient: The Operative Experience

The last thing a patient hears before drifting to sleep in the gifted hands of their surgical care team is a voice. One that tells them they can just breathe and relax: “You are well taken care of.”

That reassuring voice comes from behind the mask of a highly skilled and educated specialist. The anesthesiologist’s main job is to keep patients stable during every operation, but they are also fast becoming more and more responsible for their patient’s whole operative experience.

“You know, it’s a mysterious process for the patient.” Dr. Jacques Smit is an anesthesiologist at Victoria General Hospital, where he has worked since moving from South Africa.

“The patient has to surrender. What’s great is that they don’t surrender to a stranger but to someone who has visited with them before the surgery, who has allowed them to express their unique anxieties, who has captured the essence of their medical condition, physiology and psychology. They surrender to someone who has communicated with all the specialists, and taken responsibility for the patient’s totality – and that, helps.”

Every patient is different, Dr. Smit says. “A three-year-old may feel scared to leave their parents, a father might worry about his blood pressure, someone else might be thinking about pain. If I can help a patient feel calmer, more informed and optimized for surgery, then their experience and outcome will absolutely be better.”

Once the patient is asleep, Dr. Smit must place a breathing tube to keep the patient alive and safe. “So many of the improvements in surgery have been a direct result from advancements in anesthesiology equipment. What we are able to do now that we weren’t able to do 50 years ago is directly related to our ability to provide better ventilation, deliver anesthetic, and protect the airway and lungs.”

The ability to see well enough to place a breathing tube is not always possible with some people’s physiology. For many patients, he will need what’s called a difficult-intubation scope. “If you have the patient asleep, and go to put the breathing tube in and can’t, it’s a dangerous situation. When you can’t see what you’re doing, there is a bigger risk of trauma, or it could go in the wrong place, which is the biggest contributor to mortality in anesthesiology.”

The specific pieces of anesthesiology equipment the community can support this fall are 12 difficult-intubation scopes. Because of their curve, camera and LED light, doctors like Dr. Smit can gently guide the scopes through any airway. Essential for the respiratory support of patients undergoing surgery, the scopes can help secure a patient’s airway in an emergency situation.

Dr. Smit says they are a huge advancement for patient safety and preventing trauma. They also cancel the need for “awake intubation” – the placement of a breathing tube when one is conscious – which can be stress-inducing for patients.

Post-operatively, Dr. Smit sees all his patients again for pain or nausea management, and breathing support. The patient once again has the opportunity to hear the voice that guided them safely through their operation.

Dr. Smit is very grateful to be here, on Vancouver Island. “Victoria is pretty much nirvana. We do all the subspecialties of anesthesia: cardiac, vascular and thoracic at Royal Jubilee Hospital, and obstetrics, pediatrics, trauma and neurosurgery at Victoria General Hospital. Our talented, well-educated teams in the ORs are doing high-class work and our Island Health community allows us to do it.”

Dr. Smit has equipment like the difficult-intubation scopes to do all this because this community supports their hospitals. “We aren’t experimental. We are just current and dedicated. Patients having better outcomes and better experience of their care. That’s the reward.”

A new chance at life

When Emily arrived at the Emergency Department at Victoria General Hospital, she knew something was gravely wrong. Her chest hurt, she was disoriented, and a deep sense of uneasiness was quickly overwhelming her. What Emily didn’t know at the time was that she was dying. A massive tear in her heart’s ascending aorta was causing her chest cavity to fill with blood and her cardiovascular system was shutting down.

At just 27 years old, Emily was not expecting to have serious heart issues. But emergency physicians quickly determined Emily was suffering from an aortic dissection, a rare but fatal condition that requires rapid intervention. Emily’s alcohol consumption contributed to her experiencing this unusual cardiac trauma at such a young age. But the CT scanning technology available in our Emergency Department allowed doctors to immediately assess and diagnose Emily’s massive cardiac trauma and get to work saving her life.

Within an hour of arriving at Victoria General, Emily was rushed to Royal Jubilee Hospital, the cardiac referral centre for Vancouver Island, and prepped for emergency open-heart surgery. Dr. Lynn Fedoruk, Division Chief of Cardiac Surgery for Island Health, wasted no time in performing the complex operation that saved her life. Ten years ago, Emily may not have survived. But advances in technology and equipment meant she could be saved and get the help needed to live a healthy, long life.

Today, at 29, Emily’s life has turned around and she radiates health. Working with children as an Educational Assistant keeps her busy and focused on what’s important in life — health and happiness. She has also run a half marathon. “I feel so grateful for the care I received, especially looking back at how serious it was. I felt a real connection with Dr. Fedoruk because I knew she truly cared about me and helped me survive my traumatic experience. I am beyond grateful to be able to experience life fully, and newly with my heart 2.0. I have another chance.

For as long as she can remember, Dr. Lynn Fedoruk felt compelled to become a cardiac surgeon. She knew it was what she was meant to do in life and relentlessly pursued the long and arduous route to become a surgeon. For the past 10 years, Dr. Fedoruk has been saving lives and returning people to health at Royal Jubilee Hospital.

“Cardiac technology and equipment have improved drastically over the past decade, allowing more lives to be saved and overall outcomes to improve dramatically. Today we can operate on people who just 10 years ago we had to turn away”, says Dr. Fedoruk. “For example, operating on patients who are 80+ years old is now routine, whereas in the past it simply wasn’t possible.”

Dr. Fedoruk explains how advances in equipment are not, on their own, solely responsible for improved care, but are part of a bigger picture where everything from new equipment, improved imaging technology, and better post-op care all contribute to higher survival rates. “When patient outcomes are improved by just 2% or 3%, the impact is massive. It may not seem so at first glance, but if you consider that we may operate on 700 cases a year, that means that up to 21 more lives will be saved.”

Donors play a major role in equipping our medical teams with the tools and advancements they need to solve complicated cases and save lives. “Simply put, when we have better tools, the care we give patients is better,” says Dr. Fedoruk.

Diane Ball spent her whole life knowing she was born with a hereditary congenital heart defect that might someday affect her ability to live a full life – her aortic valve has only two cusps instead of the usual three. Her father passed away from the same condition at just 48 years old. But with two grown children and three beloved grandkids, Diane was determined to live a vibrant, active life filled with family and love well into her golden years.

Last April, Diane was having a blast on a Hawaiian cruise when she suffered a mild stroke. But against the advice of onboard doctors, she stayed on for the rest of the voyage. Her decision to stay was part of her philosophy of living life to the fullest. She felt ok, and didn’t want to cut short her much-anticipated trip. Upon Diane’s return to Victoria, an echocardiogram revealed her heart function had significantly declined. Once-simple activities, like walking to get the mail or going to the pool for a swim, had become near impossible. Diane’s aortic valve needed to be replaced, which required open-heart surgery at Royal Jubilee Hospital.

“Dr. Fedoruk and her team gave me my life back,” said Diane. “I’m 66 years old. Without this surgery, I would not have lived for more than another year. The care I received was absolutely amazing, and my family and I are immensely grateful for the life-changing care I received. When Dr. Fedoruk fixed my heart valve, she liberated me!”

Diane is back to doing everything she loves and couldn’t be happier, thanks to the skilled and dedicated cardiac teams who do everything in their power to return people to wellness.

Did you know dental surgery was happening in your hospitals?

From the time he was 11 years old, Dr. Anthony Nadolski knew he wanted to be a dentist. He was inspired by his own dentist who encouraged him to pursue the profession, and he followed his calling. For the past 41 years, Dr. Nadolski has helped patients from across Vancouver Island manage their oral health through his dental practice and as a member of hospital surgical teams.

Each dental surgeons in BC treats about 350 cases annually – everything from tooth extractions, implants and bone spurs to repairing traumatic injuries and cleft palates. For some patients, these dental procedures are too complex to perform in a regular dental clinic and must take place in a hospital setting.

Dr. Nadolski regularly cares for patients who have Autism Spectrum Disorder, spasticity resulting from stroke or other diseases, or various mental health challenges in hospital, because these cannot tolerate the usual protocols for routine dental treatment. Making our hospital operating rooms available to these special needs dental patients provides them access to care that would otherwise would not be possible given their unique circumstances. “Caring for special needs dental patients in in our community is extremely important. Oral health and overall health is directly connected. These patients often have multiple health factors to manage. Suffering from oral pain or infection obstructs efforts to improve overall health and quality of life. You cannot have one without the other,” says Dr. Nadolski.

For example, many people do not realize that patients are unable to undergo any type of major surgery while an infection is present in the mouth because of the risk of it spreading to other areas of the body. In particular, untreated oral infections can have catastrophic consequences for cardiac surgery patients and, in some cases, can actually cause infections of the heart, as in the case of Gordon Lee from Victoria.
Gordon is well known around town for his high-energy, rapid-fire photography of local sports teams, events and graduation ceremonies. At age 60, he has spent more than 30 years capturing special moments and memories made in our community. When he began feeling unwell several years ago, he thought he was simply coming down with a bad case of the flu. He was photographing a local high school graduation ceremony and couldn’t shake his dizziness and nausea. He finished up the job and went home to rest. The next day, his family was alarmed when Gordon was so lethargic he could barely get out of bed. He kept slipping back into sleep and was feeling far worse than the day before.

When Gordon finally woke up, he was at Victoria General Hospital. He had been rushed there by ambulance and admitted with a dangerous staph infection in his mouth. Doctors told him it was the worst they had ever seen and, terrifyingly, had spread all the way to his heart. Gordon had not seen a dentist in more than 20 years, as a negative experience in childhood sparked a decades-long aversion to regular checkups and cleanings.
The cardiac infection was so serious that it damaged one of Gordon’s heart valves to the extent it needed to be replaced. The open heart surgery team at Royal Jubilee replaced Gordon’s valve with a new titanium valve while Dr. Nadolski worked alongside them in the operating room to clean up the oral infection. Gordon’s case was so severe that he was hospitalized for more than two months.
“I’m so thankful to the doctors in our hospitals for saving my life. I now go to the dentist every three months and will never again underestimate the importance of my oral health”, says Gordon.

Gordon’s story serves not only as a cautionary tale for maintaining good oral health, but also as an example of the important collaboration between dental surgeons and other surgical specialties. Surgeons often work together as a multi-disciplinary team to return their patients to health.
Dr. Nadolski is proud of the work he and his colleagues do to help patients. “Our surgical teams are well organized. We meet regularly to discuss complex cases that involve more than one surgical team working together. Our goal is always to do the best for our patients and I know that all of the surgeons at Island Health are passionate about providing outstanding care.”

Navigating When Every Millimeter Counts

ENT surgery, or surgery of the head and neck, is complex. The carotid artery, the eye and brain—these are vital structures.

Every millimeter counts when it comes to operating in this area. And ENT surgeons like Dr. Roy Cheung work with adults and children every day who face everything from a tonsillectomy, to reconstructive surgery, cancer or life-threatening infection.

Because of medical advancements in the field, Dr. Cheung can perform many of these operations through the nose. That means a less invasive surgery for patients than through incisions on the face or through the brain. It also means faster recovery.

“When I’m operating, I need to be absolutely certain of the exact location of every instrument and my patient’s anatomy,” said Dr. Cheung about this kind of advanced surgery. “For that certainty, I rely on the ENT Image Guidance System to give me simultaneous positional information. This is real-time information, displayed on-screen, in any perspective I need.”

The Guidance System is a little like having GPS for your car, Cheung explains, but if you needed to get somewhere very important, very quickly and very safely. “And if there is inflammation, infection or bleeding, it’s like trying to navigate in a blizzard,” he says. “But with this equipment I know exactly where I am and exactly where I am going.”

One of his patients, 18-year-old Luke, had what started out as a very common ailment: a sinus headache. However this quickly turned into a life-threatening illness. Luke was in intense pain and couldn’t keep down the antibiotics that should have cleared his infection. An abscess formed around his eye, swelling it shut and impacting his vision. At midnight his father drove him to the hospital.

Dr. Cheung took one look at Luke and knew he had to act fast. The infection was getting worse. If they didn’t deal with the abscess and the source of the infection, there was a real possibility Luke could go blind. Not only that, the abscess could spread to his brain and cause a fatal blood clot. Dr. Cheung gathered a team of Island Health specialists, and rushed Luke into an after-hours surgery.

The infection was in a complicated location. And Luke was acutely inflamed, making it difficult to see the location of the abscess. Using the ENT Image Guidance System, Dr. Cheung and his team were able to quickly make a CT scan, fuse it into the guidance system, and allow the navigation to guide them through the difficult areas so they could reach the infection and drain it.

“This equipment made an incredible difference to Luke. It helped him have a 100% recovery,” Dr. Cheung said about the importance of having the ENT Image Guidance System. “You know, I want to help people. They come in suffering, and as a doctor, I want to take away that suffering. The community can be part of that by helping us raise funds for all this surgical equipment.”

The ENT Image Guidance System and tools are part of a $1.8 million campaign for 72 pieces of advanced surgery equipment for 14 different surgical specialties in the operating rooms at Royal Jubilee and Victoria General hospitals.

Luke is now a 21-year-old biochemistry student, thinking about his future as a researcher or med student. He plays squash, does a lot of schoolwork, and has just taken up the piano.

“Sometimes it does occur to me,” Luke said of his experience, “that I’m here. And, I might not have been. I can see, right now, and I might not have been able to. It’s an uplifting feeling.” And what does he think about Dr. Cheung? “I just think it’s amazing! He saved my life. That’s his job and he is just so cool about it. I’m really grateful.”

A New Level of Care

When Dr. Samaad Malik, Head of General Surgery for Island Health, speaks about why he chose to practice medicine in Victoria, his eyes light up. “Of course Victoria is beautiful, but what really attracted me to the Island Health region is the high caliber of medical talent and the abundance of brilliant surgeons who could teach and mentor me as I was starting out.”

Island Health has a reputation for attracting the best and brightest doctors, which means Vancouver Island residents have access to some of the finest, most advanced healthcare in Canada. But there is always room to for improvement – an opportunity to be better and to continually enhance the care people receive in our hospitals.

Over the past decade, advancements in the equipment and technology used in general surgery have positively affected patient care by leaps and bounds. Every day in our operating rooms, minimally invasive techniques (laparoscopic surgery) are improving patients’ experience and outcomes for all types of surgery, on every level. Advanced technology has a huge impact on how surgeons deliver care. Whether it is a gallbladder surgery, hernia repair, appendix removal, colon surgery, or a complicated bariatric procedure, the modern techniques used by surgeons today are responsible for:

• Shorter surgeries, which frees up surgical teams and operating room facilities to help more people, faster
• Smaller incisions. Many operations are now performed through a tiny pin-hole opening.
• Significantly less pain and discomfort, coupled with accelerated healing and recovery
• Reduced hospital stays and the freedom to recuperate at home
• Heightened quality of life and wellbeing as a result of the factors above

Returning people to wellbeing so they can continue to enjoy their lives to the fullest is one of the most important motivations for Dr. Malik. “Having the latest technology allows me to offer my patients a level of care that leads directly to better outcomes. People go through less trauma and stress, heal faster and get back on their feet much sooner. As surgeons, we are so grateful to donors who help us achieve this. Our patients are grateful too. Thank you!”

Dr. Mazgani: Caring For Women Just Like Me

Dr. Mona Mazgani takes a look at her new patient, one of the 15 she will meet that week. The first thought on her mind is always the same: the woman who just walked into her office is a female professional who loves her job, her partner, their kids, and their Vancouver Island home. A woman much like her.

Dr. Mazgani is a gynecologic oncologist surgeon. Every day she meets a mother, an aunt or a sister who may soon be diagnosed with female cancer – whether it is ovarian, endometrial, vaginal, cervical, or vulvar.

“I can easily relate to the women I meet: we share the same hobbies, we have children. It’s so important for me to connect with them, so that when I tell them what is wrong they know they have a friend right here and there,” says Mazgani. “I think that’s what I love about practicing in Victoria: the level of care in our community is much more personalized than what I have seen in bigger centres.”

Mazgani, who emigrated from Holland to Vancouver to complete her fellowship, came to Vancouver Island in 2010. Before her time, there was no surgical team fully trained in gynecologic oncology, and radical hysterectomies and pelvic exenteration surgeries were sent to the mainland. Today, we perform these surgeries here at Victoria General hospital and treat women from all over the island.

Four to eight these procedures are scheduled every week at Victoria General Hospital. Dr. Mazgani and Dr. Trevor Cohen, the other gynecologic oncologist, co-perform these surgeries together, with their special team of qualified nurses, anesthesiologists and pathologists.

“We have the talent and we have the support from Island Health. What we need now is specialized equipment to better the care of our patients. With the right instruments, many of our surgeries can be done laparoscopically, meaning that not only our patients go home sooner and recover faster, they also have minimal scaring – which can be important for these women.”

The Gamma Detection System (GDS) is one of these specialized instruments, and one of 72 pieces of equipment that will be funded through the Fall Campaign for Surgical Excellence. The probe allows Dr. Mazgani to identify potential spread to the lymph nodes from cervical cancer through small, 11mm incisions.

“The probe can help us detect lymph node metastasis more quickly, safely and less invasively. We can inject nuclear dye into a patient’s cervix, get imaging done, and have the patient into the OR all in one day.”

The GDS uses Bluetooth technology to detect the sentinel node, the first lymph node to which cancer cells are most likely to spread to from a primary tumour. Dr. Mazgani only needs to make one small incision to remove that node, before sending it off to a pathologist for ultra-staging, a process to determine whether cancer is present in the node. If cancer is found, Dr. Mazgani may remove additional lymph nodes during the same procedure or decide to stop the surgery and proceed with a better treatment modality, such as radiation therapy.

“Cancer is a scary thought. These women come in apprehensive, worried not just for their health but for the future of their family. If I can minimalize the process of detection with this equipment, then we can quickly decide on a treatment plan and I can send a woman home that day where she will be surrounded by her loved ones.”

Almost all advanced oncology procedures can now be performed on Vancouver Island thanks to our talented surgical teams and specialists like Dr. Mazgani.

Improving quality of life through surgery

Living with jaw pain affects every aspect of a person’s life – speaking, eating, sleeping, and even the most basic expression of emotion: smiling. Whether a patient is born with a congenital condition or experiences an accident or traumatic facial injury, having a properly aligned jaw is important to overall health.

Dr. Anthony Rea, an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon with Island health, has dual qualifications in dentistry and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and specializes in jaw reconstruction. Often working closely with ENT, plastic and general dentists, Dr. Rea helps people with jaw abnormalities improve their quality of life through surgery. “While there is always a medical necessity for this type of surgery, it can often help patients overcome insecurities about their appearance and discover new found hope in the process. It is incredibly rewarding to offer a degree of hope to people who require reconstructive procedures because of accidents or congenital deformities,” says Rea.

Over the past decade, advances in the tools and technology used in oral and maxillofacial surgery have resulted in major strides in patient care. Surgeons can now produce 3D images of their patients’ jaw and facial structure, which allows them to meticulously plan surgeries in advance. This eliminates any guesswork and allows surgeons to operate with far greater precision. Knowing what is going on in a patient’s body ahead of surgery makes the procedure more efficient, safer and less time-consuming. “When a person experiences jaw pain, there can be many causes. We first have to determine the source of the pain, and the new Temporomandibular (TMJ) Arthroscope helps us do that.”

The new scope which we are currently raising funds for serves a crucial dual purpose – not only can it diagnose specific conditions within the jaw and face, it can also provide targeted treatment. While the tip of the scope contains a high-resolution camera which guides surgeons and offers a detailed view of internal tissue, surgeons also use the scope to treat inflamed tissue and deliver medication to a tiny, targeted area.

Like many modern surgical tools, the scope is used in minimally invasive procedures. Incisions are very small and heal faster than in the past. This new tool has the potential to reduce surgery time from two hours to just 30 minutes, and many patients are able to go home the same day without an overnight hospital stay.

A Letter from Dr. Brent Weatherhead

I love what I do. As an orthopedic surgeon, my job is to put back together a patient after a a serious injury, replace a worn out joint, or correct a deformity so people can move again. It is immensely gratifying to see an 8-year-old girl with cerebral palsy walk after years in a wheelchair following reconstructive surgery, or get someone back to work or sport following their injury, or to check on a grandfather with a new hip who has just returned from an active holiday with his grandchildren. It makes a big difference to the people in our community.

Take Matthew, for example. After developing a bone infection in his early years, his left femur stopped growing, creating a large discrepancy in the length of his legs and leaving him with a severe limp. Initially cared for away from Vancouver Island for many years, Matthew received two lengthening procedures that required a bulky external frame to keep his left leg together. The apparatus he wore was heavy and frequently became infected. It also carried a social and emotional toll as it served as a constant reminder of his disability.

When Matthew came to me in 2014, I knew we could do better for him. Our surgical teams at Victoria General and Royal Jubilee hospitals are at the forefront of innovation, always looking to provide less invasive, more sophisticated procedures. There was no reason Matthew couldn’t receive revolutionary care, right here at home.

Matthew was the first person in British Columbia to benefit from new lengthening technology. I had heard of the innovation at an international conference on orthopedics and although it had only been done a couple of times in the country, I knew my team would have the talent and support to successfully complete the procedure.

In December 2015, we placed a growing rod inside of Matthew’s left femur and stabilized it with internal pins. The procedure took a short 45-minutes, and Matthew was up on his crutches the very next day with no external evidence of this procedure. For the technology to work, Matthew had to manually help it along. For the next 75 days, he held a remote controller to his leg for 3 minutes, 3 times a day. The controller used magnets to lengthen the femur internally, slowly and painlessly. In two and a half months, the femur grew by 7.5 cm, and Matthew was, for the first time, walking without a limp.

The innovation and excellence in surgical care we provided to Matthew is now available for many on Vancouver Island. We conduct over 5,000 orthopedic surgeries annually, virtually never have to send pediatric or any orthopedic patients away, and our teams

However, so that we may continue to offer this level of care, the right tools are key. Drills and saws are important pieces of equipment that we use in all orthopedic procedures, as they allow us to work with the bone using high precision and efficiency in our operating rooms.

I am grateful that the Victoria Hospitals Foundation is funding 18 of these heavy-duty tools so that my team and I can continue to provide the very best care to our patients, whether it be for Matthew, for your neighbour, or for your family member.

I invite you to consider making a gift towards their campaign. Your support allows us to provide our high calibre work with the right equipment to our patients on Vancouver Island.

Thank you,

Dr. Brent Weatherhead

A Letter from Matthew Gordon

I was often on the sidelines. My limp and, later on, the external skeleton holding my left leg together, never allowed me to be fully functional when playing sports.

I loved sports, of course, but the pins in my legs would get infected and painful, and people always looked at me funny. It was hard then because I don’t really like that kind of attention.

What Dr. Weatherhead did for me changed my life. The surgery and lengthening technology were painless. The summer after my surgery, I was surfing in Tofino with my classmates and I now play full-back on our school’s rugby team.

Matthew Gordon

Changing Lives on Vancouver Island

When we talk about plastic surgery, many people immediately think of Hollywood and cosmetic surgery. But at Royal Jubilee and Victoria General hospitals, plastic surgeons like Dr. Jennifer Robinson perform complex, life-changing surgeries that repair and reconstruct peoples’ bodies after serious injuries or illness.

Whether it is a young burn victim receiving skin grafts, a man having his hand rebuilt after an industrial accident, or a woman having breast reconstruction following a mastectomy, the innovative techniques used by highly skilled plastic surgeons in our hospitals not only restore patients’ physical wellbeing, but also their quality of life. The chance to prevent or reverse disfigurement in people has immeasurable value and goes far beyond aesthetics.

When Allisha Moniz-Slater was experiencing stubborn jaw pain on the left side of her face, she had no idea that it was a rare and aggressive tumor – ameloblastoma. Doctors informed her that, over time, it would continue to grow and eventually would affect her ability to breathe, eat and speak while also causing her face to become disfigured. Luckily for Allisha, the tumour was not cancerous, but she required a complicated reconstructive surgery at Royal Jubilee Hospital to remove it and rebuild the area of her jaw which was severely damaged.

While seeking a second opinion, Allisha was told to resign herself to a life of hiding her disfigured face. Thankfully, Dr. Jennifer Robinson, a Plastic Surgeon with Island Health, knew she and the team at Royal Jubilee could do better for Allisha and that a life of covering her face was not an option.

Allisha’s complicated surgery lasted around 15 hours. In order to extract the tumour, Dr. Robinson had to remove Allisha’s lower left jaw and rebuild it using sections of bone from her fibula. After surgery, Allisha spent five days in the Intensive Care Unit, followed by three weeks in the Patient Care Centre. She could not breathe on her own, her jaw was wired shut and she could not speak, eat or do anything independently. But despite the intricate and complex surgery, Allisha was well on her way to recovery. The tumour was gone and Allisha’s face was beginning to heal.

“As a surgeon, it’s imperative that my patients are able to regain their quality of life after leaving my hands. When my team and I have the best equipment and technology to perform our delicate work, the whole community benefits. People on Vancouver Island who need reconstructive or plastic surgery can take great comfort in the fact that we are well-equipped to take good care of them,” says Dr. Robinson.

Allisha was impressed with the care she received. “I am so thankful to my surgeons and team who cared for me. It was a difficult experience, but my team was so compassionate and caring and I felt confident in their hands. I have healed remarkably well. My scars are barely visible and everything is back to my now new normal. I’ve returned to my job as an early childhood educator and life is good. I am so thankful!”

Plastic surgery is extremely intricate and requires years of specialized education and training. Dr. Robinson and the surgeons at Royal Jubilee are some of North America’s finest and we are fortunate to live in a community that offers this level of care. But to provide sophisticated, leading-edge care, surgical teams also need the best tools and technology.

The more than 2,200 plastics and reconstructive surgery procedures performed at Royal Jubilee and Victoria General hospitals last year all require a large and complex array of equipment. Successful patient outcomes are directly linked to the quality of the technology used by the surgical teams, meaning it is critical to equip our medical professionals with the best tools available.

Treating Lung Cancer

As a young and vibrant 28 year old, Christina Garner was not expecting to be diagnosed with lung cancer. She had never smoked and was healthy. The diagnosis was shocking to her and her family.

“I had no aches, no pain, and no symptoms. There was only one day I felt off, and even then, I didn’t realize the extent of what was going on within my body because we all have aches and pains. It was a random anomaly that doctors were lucky to catch.”

Her cancer diagnosis was likely caused by a rare condition she was born with – Tracheobronchial Papillomatosis. The disease causes small, benign tumours throughout the airway which need to be cleared every four to six weeks through surgery. These small tumours can rapidly become cancerous for unknown reasons and without treatment cause the airway to completely close.

Luckily for Christina, doctors at Royal Jubilee Hospital detected her lung cancer before it progressed too far. It had reached stage three, but by performing a lobectomy (a minimally invasive procedure where a part of the lung is removed) Dr. Samphire was able to eliminate the malignant area. In conjunction with chemotherapy, the surgery left Christina cancer-free and able to get back to living a full life. Three years have gone by since her surgery and she is doing great. Although Christina still has her lifelong illness, she is optimistic and doesn’t let her condition define her. “We never know when we are going to face these kind of challenges in life. I’m so grateful for the excellent care I received from not only the surgeons but the entire team. They saved my life!”

Over the past decade, huge strides have been made in our operating rooms. The single-most significant evolution in care is the introduction of minimally invasive techniques. Instead of fully opening up the chest cavity, far less invasive tools are used to access surgical sites. In many cases, like Christina’s, incisions that used to be up to 25cm in a patient’s chest and spread the ribcage to access the chest cavity are not even made in the chest, but rather on the side of the torso. Regardless of the specific procedure, this incision is incredibly painful and requires a long time to heal.

Dr. John Samphire, a thoracic surgeon with Island Health and Christina’s doctor explains. “We now operate using scopes, cameras and small probes in 80% of cases. Advanced cameras guide our work and ensure we have a vivid picture of what’s happening inside a patient’s body. And because the incisions are so much smaller, people experience less pain, trauma and recover much sooner than in the past. Advanced tools and technology have revolutionized our work.”

For patients like Christina, these advancements in thoracic surgery have made a significant impact. “The recovery was tough, but it could have been so much worse if the procedure was not minimally invasive. The biggest incision I have is only 2 or 3 inches and 1 inch of it was from my chest tube. With any recovery from a major surgery you have your good days and bad, but for what it could have been my recovery was great!”

Today there is a need for new thoracic surgical equipment that will continue to advance healthcare on Vancouver Island. A gift towards the surgical campaign will help fund three video assisted thoracic instruments and a new video assisted bronchoscope. These tools will support surgeons like Dr. Samphire in lives, like Christina’s.

How the GreenLight Laser Impacts Quality of Life

Urinary health is not always top of mind. Yet, when one experiences severe urinary problems, there is nothing more reassuring than knowing we have access to the top urologists, right here on Vancouver Island. Like many surgical specialties, recent advances in the equipment used in Urology have allowed our surgeons to operate with greater precision, accuracy and, most importantly, safety. The improvements in patient care resulting from more sophisticated equipment have meant that our community members are experiencing shorter recovery times, faster healing and the ability to return to their daily lives much sooner.

Dr. Iain McAuley, Urologist & Division Chief of Urology with Island Health, has seen many advances in care in his 16-year career. “Managing urinary health is simply a fact of life for men of a certain age. When I have the most advanced equipment to care for my patients, complex prostate conditions can be easily and safely treated — so efficiently in fact, that many men are able to return home the same day as their surgery.”

The specific Urology pieces of equipment we are asking the community to support this fall are involved in diagnosing and treating prostate conditions – one of the most common health concerns experienced by men in their later years. We are raising funds for four GreenLight Laser Resectoscopes and six Urology Camera Heads.

“For most of the people I treat, their primary concern is returning to their daily routine and maintaining a quality of life they are happy with,” says McAuley. “Advanced equipment makes that possible, and, now that we see the difference it makes, it is unfathomable to me as a surgeon to operate without it. Support from donors will help us access more of the tools that enhance our abilities to improve people’s lives by returning them to good health.”

Paddy, a Veteran in his nineties who served as an Officer in the Royal Navy both during and after the war, was living an active lifestyle with his wife Mary Adele, when he accidentally tumbled on his front steps last November and fell on the concrete pathway. During a trip to the Emergency Department at Royal Jubilee Hospital, doctors discovered he had five broken ribs. The trauma of the fall started to affect his whole system, causing his health to decline and Paddy to become delirious. He had to be hospitalized for more than a month.

An accidental fall can have devastating consequences for older adults. It’s common for men to experience urinary problems in this situation, which is exactly what happened to Paddy. His condition required the use of a catheter, even for several months after he was released from the hospital. A home support team had to visit twice a day, and he was just not able to enjoy the same quality of life as before his accident.

Fortunately for Paddy and many men like him, the Urology Departments at Royal Jubilee Hospital and Victoria General Hospital are equipped with revolutionary tools that can reverse the need for a catheter: the GreenLight Laser.

After a brief procedure in which Dr. McAuley used the laser, Paddy recuperated, regained his strength and returned to his old self, living a vibrant, full life once again. He now stays busy attending opera and symphony performances with Mary Adele, enjoying the company of their two dogs, and sweating it out at two exercise classes per week at the Oak Bay Rec Centre.

Paddy was impressed with his stay at the Patient Care Centre, and grateful to have his life back to normal, spending time with his wife, sons and daughters and five grandkids. “The care I received was excellent, and the hospital felt like a luxury hotel. I can’t say enough about the doctors and nurses. Dr. McAuley has an incredible bedside manner and was so compassionate. All of the care teams were excellent. I am so thankful our hospital has the best equipment to help patients like me recover. The GreenLight Laser made a huge difference to me and really impacted my quality of life.”

Luckiest Man in Canada

Vascular Surgery is one of the most intricate, equipment-intensive types of surgery performed in our hospitals. Skilled surgeons operate on the arteries and veins of our body. Some of these are the tiniest operable structures in the human body, as small as 2mm. The work is extremely delicate and precise and surgical teams rely on sophisticated technology to guide them as they care for their patients.

Dr. Shung Lee, one of the four vascular surgeons with Island Health, operates on a diverse range of patients dealing with conditions related to the arteries – everything from strokes and blood clots to aneurysms and circulation problems arising from diabetes or smoking. He also treats conditions related to veins including varicose veins and deep venous thrombosis (DVT).

Vascular surgeons specialize in more than one or two types of vascular interventions and are trained in open, complicated surgery in addition to minimally invasive, endovascular procedures. Using advanced, minimally invasive technology only available in the last decade, vascular surgeons can now prevent strokes before they happen and return vital blood supply to organs before irreparable damage occurs sometimes without ever having to use a scalpel.

Vascular surgeons have the ability to save limbs from amputation or repair trauma to blood vessels caused by serious accidents. Vascular surgeons often collaborate with other specialists to devise solutions to complex cases. For example, Dr. Lee and his colleagues help nephrologists access dialysis points on kidney failure patients. They also work alongside cardiac, general, ENT, and orthopedic surgery teams on complex surgical conditions.

Many vascular conditions are age-related and living a healthy, balanced lifestyle doesn’t necessarily offer protection. Aneurysms are more common than people think, and can potentially be fatal if the aneurysm ruptures leading to catastrophic internal bleeding. Dr. Lee explains that “10% of men and 2% of women over age 70 will develop an abdominal aortic aneurysm. When an aneurysm bursts, response time is the -most significant factor and can mean the difference between life and death. By the time an aneurysm has ruptured, time is already running out. Even if the patient arrives in time to get into the operating room, they have lost so much blood they are in shock so the odds of surviving traditional surgery are grim. Fortunately, we can now do this operation with less invasive surgery using endovascular stent grafts. Consequently, we are seeing a positive impact on survival and recovery from this devastating condition.”

John is a seasoned world traveller from Brentwood Bay who, with his wife Bonnie of 35 years, has visited dozens of countries spanning the far reaches of the globe – most recently Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia. As a retired RCMP officer, John has encountered numerous dangerous, high-stakes situations throughout his life. “I’ve had people come at me with knives, a gun, you name it…but I’ve never been so scared as one night in 2014 when I abruptly woke up in the middle of the night in the most intense pain of my life,” recalls John. “I was sound asleep when I felt like I had been stabbed with a hot poker.”

John’s wife knew something was seriously wrong and immediately called 911. As a former 911 operator, she had a keen sense of urgency and remained calm and level headed as emergency responders rushed to the scene. Just two days prior, the couple had returned from a trip to remote Tajikistan. They did not know it at the time, but John was suffering a ruptured abdominal aneurysm that required immediate, rapid intervention. Had this happened anywhere without quick access to life-saving care, the outcome would not have been the same.

“I woke up in intensive care after having life-saving surgery and the first thing I heard was “How’s the luckiest man in Canada this morning?” John was among the extremely fortunate 10% of people who survive a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. This type of aneurysm is fatal in 90% of cases because there simply isn’t sufficient time to access the emergency care required before internal bleeding becomes deadly. But thankfully for John, he made it to the hospital in time for Dr. Shung Lee to repair the damage and save his life.

Morocco is next on John’s travel agenda. At age 69 he is thankful to be alive and enjoying his life and family. “We are so fortunate to have access to excellent healthcare here in Victoria and I am continually reminded in my travels of how lucky we are in so many aspects of life. I’m so impressed with the care I received. It’s humbling to realize that I owe my life to a group of total strangers. Central Saanich firemen, BC Ambulance paramedics, Saanich Peninsula ER staff, the wonderful nursing staff at Royal Jubilee Hospital and of course, that consummate professional, Dr. Shung Lee. These people are phenomenal and I couldn’t be more grateful.”

A Letter from Pam

I am happiest in the outdoors. Whenever I can, I hike the trails of Vancouver Island, canoe its rivers or ride my bike all around Victoria. I love to explore and push my body to its limit. It’s who I am.

But in the spring of 2014, I began to suffer from severe back and leg pain. At first I ignored it, thinking I had pulled a muscle or strained my back. But then I was diagnosed with a rare spinal cord tumour in my lower back. I worried my body had reached a limit it could not overcome. A shift in self-awareness happened in that moment: I went from feeling strong and independent, to vulnerable and frightened. What if I could never ride my bike? What if I lost bladder or bowel function? I was only 53 years old and I had so much more life to live and so many more adventures to experience.

Naturally the surgery was nerve-racking. I am a stoic person and have overcome many obstacles in my life but nothing terrified me quite as much as the operation. When I got into that operating room, I remember how confident and calm Dr. Reid’s team was, and that made a world of difference. As I went under anaesthesia, I recognized just how lucky I was to have access to an excellent surgical team right here at home on Vancouver Island.

I will never forget the words I heard Dr. Reid speak when I woke up. “It’s all gone. I don’t think it will ever come back.” Relief and hope flooded through me, and I vowed to make the very best out of every new day.

Four weeks into recovery, I was back in the pool and before the one-year follow up, I was riding on a 3-day, 200 km cycle tour. The tumour was gone and I was back pushing my body to its limit.

As I reflect on this important experience in my life, I can’t help but think about how essential it was for Dr. Reid and his team to have the best equipment possible. Having leading-edge equipment will allow talented surgeons like Dr. Reid and his colleagues to keep providing innovative, sophisticated procedures to patients across Vancouver Island.

Pam
Neurosurgery patient

A Letter from Dr. Reid

I remember very clearly the day I met Pam ― a woman who despite being fit and healthy had a large tumour growing adjacent to her spinal cord. This kind of tumour is rare and if left untreated would jeopardize her ability to walk or lead a normal life. Immediate neurosurgery was Pam’s only option.

A decade ago, many complex neurosurgical procedures like Pam’s would have been sent to Vancouver for surgery. The spine is a delicate area to operate on, and a tumour in close proximity to the spinal cord and many delicate spinal nerves makes the surgery even riskier.

Today, I am proud to say that my department can conduct complex surgeries such as Pam’s right here at Victoria General Hospital. Over the past few years our surgeons have been part of a quiet revolution in care as new technologies make improved surgical procedures possible. We have the talent and the experience we need to keep our patients close to home.

But to make use of this talent and keep our surgeons passionate about innovation in neurosurgery, we need the latest technology. That’s why my team and I are so grateful to be working with the Victoria Hospitals Foundation to raise $1.8 million to fund 72 pieces of urgently-needed equipment, including four pieces for neurosurgery.

One of these pieces, the neurosurgery monitor, is critical for many acute spinal neurosurgeries I perform. It costs $73,600 and without it, I would not have been able to localize the nerves around Pam’s tumour and test each nerve’s function as I was extracting the mass. Using the monitor, I was able to remove Pam’s entire tumour and make sure it did not reoccur, a possibility in her case. Today, Pam is in remission, making the most of her life with full function of her legs, bowel and bladder.

Pam is only one of the 1,367 patients I have operated on since I first came to Victoria in 2008, and I am only 1 of 6 neurosurgeons that practice at Victoria General Hospital. Her success story, and that of the thousands of others we have seen over the years, would not be possible without the advanced equipment we are able to purchase thanks to the generosity of community members like you.

Dr. Richard Reid
Neurosurgeon & Division Chief of Neurosurgery
Island Health

Equipment

Anesthesiology

Difficult-Intubation Scopes
12 funded at $22,715 each = $272,580
The RJH and VGH operating rooms need a total of 12 new difficult-intubation scopes. Difficult-intubation scopes include video laryngoscopes and bronchoscopes, both of which are used by an anesthesiologist to get a clear view of a patient’s airway. These scopes help to ensure the effective and efficient intubation of the airway for respiratory support of a patient undergoing surgery and to help secure a patient’s airway in an emergency situation.

Cardiac Surgery

ECMO Transport System
1 funded at $47,500
The RJH cardiac surgical team needs a new extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) transport system. An ECMO transport system is a critical-care trolley equipped with a heart-lung bypass system, a portable pump that takes over the functions of these organs during the transport of severely ill patients needing acute care. This specialized transport equipment is designed to safely and securely carry the weight of the bypass system. All system controls are easily accessed by caregivers, allowing for critical interventions during transport by ambulance, helicopter or plane.

Valve Retractor
1 funded at $9,700
The RJH open heart operating rooms need a new valve retractor, which is used during every open heart surgery to keep the chest open while the surgeon operates. This retractor is essential for accessing the surgical site and allowing cardiac surgeons to efficiently operate. Increasing the number of such retractors available to cardiac surgeons will save set-up time in the operating rooms.

Dental Surgery

Dental Processor
1 funded at $11,300
The VGH operating rooms need a new dental processor to support a variety of dental surgeries. A dental processor enables dental surgeons to take high-resolution digital radiographs (digital X-rays) in circumstances where the patient needs to have radiographs taken under general anesthesia to determine an immediate plan for dental restorative/surgical work. Digital image processing supports timely oral surgery decision-making without the expense and chemical waste of traditional film developing/fixing.

Otolaryngology/ENT Surgery

ENT Navigation System
1 funded at $86,000
The VGH operating rooms need a new ear, nose and throat (ENT) navigation system for sinus surgery. This surgical guidance equipment acts like a global positioning system (GPS), conducting electromagnetic scans to give the surgeon simultaneous positional information on ENT instruments and the patient’s anatomy during sinus surgery. This real-time information, which can be displayed on-screen from a variety of perspectives, lets surgeons know exactly where they are operating when they are beyond the visual field.

ENT Navigation Instrument Set
1 funded at $18,900
The VGH operating rooms need a new instrument set for use with its ear, nose and throat (ENT) navigation system for sinus surgery. These instruments are part of a surgical guidance platform that acts like a global positioning system, conducting electromagnetic scans to give the surgeon simultaneous positional information on ENT instruments and the patient’s anatomy during sinus surgery. This real-time information, which can be displayed on-screen from a variety of perspectives, lets surgeons know exactly where they are operating when they are beyond the visual field.

Eye Surgery

Retinal Probes
3 funded at $4,100 each = $12,300
The RJH ophthalmology operating rooms need three new retinal probes for use during retinal surgery. Cryosurgical instruments such as this retinal probe and its console use freezing to repair a torn or detached retina by sealing the retina back to the wall of the eye. As this type of probe cannot be sterilized by flash steam sterilization, the addition of new cryo probes will mean faster equipment turnaround time for the ophthalmologists, who perform retinal surgery on up to eight patients a day.

Eye Surgery Stretchers
2 funded at $17,050 each = $34,100
The RJH ophthalmology operating rooms need two new eye surgery stretchers. These specialized stretchers offer more head-end clearance than standard stretchers; they are designed specifically for eye surgeries, where the surgeon sits close the patient’s head and uses their feet to run some of the necessary equipment.

Indirect Ophthalmoscope
1 funded at $20,200
The VGH operating rooms need a new indirect ophthalmoscope, which produces precise, high-quality images of the retina to guide ophthalmologists during eye surgeries.

Phacoemulsification Machines
2 funded at $91,650 each = $183,300
The RJH ophthalmology surgical clinic needs two new phacoemulsification machines. This machine is used in phacoemulsification cataract surgery, where an ultrasonic device is used to break up and remove a cataract from the eye to restore clear vision. It is also used during corneal transplant surgery to run all of the necessary fluid infusions into the eye.The existing phacoemulsification machines are reaching the end of their life; the replacements will provide enhanced surgical precision for the ophthalmologists, who perform more than 4,200 cataract surgeries each year.

General Surgery

Minimal Access Surgery General Sets
4 funded at $19,500 each = $78,000
The VGH and RJH operating rooms need four sets of minimal access surgery sets to support general surgery. These sets consist of a variety of equipment used daily on a large volume of and variety of cases such as gallbladder, hernia, bariatric, and bowel surgery. The benefits of minimal access surgery include shortened recovery time and improved patient comfort.

Low-Temperature Plasma Sterilizers
3 funded at $153,800 each = $461,400
The RJH and VGH Medical Device Reprocessing Departments (MDRDs) need a total of three new low-temperature plasma sterilizers. A low-temperature plasma sterilizer is used to sterilize electronic instruments that are used in the operating room but that cannot be submerged in water or run through high-temperature sterilizers. The old sterilizers are nearing the end of their life; the replacements will return sterilized electronic surgical instruments to the operating room faster.

Bariatric Stretchers
2 funded at $14,000 each = $28,000
The VGH Post-Anesthetic Care Unit (PACU) needs two new bariatric stretchers. A bariatric stretcher is a powered transport stretcher used to transfer obese patients. These new stretchers will make it easier for caregivers to safely transfer patients and provide them with a more comfortable ride.

Bladder Scanner
1 funded at $13,300
The VGH Post-Anesthetic Care Unit (PACU) needs a new bladder scanner. A portable ultrasound bladder scanner is used to monitor a patient’s postoperative recovery by assessing the fullness of their bladder. PACU medical staff will be able to enhance patient comfort and reduce risk of infection by performing this non-invasive bladder assessment without the need for a catheter.

Gynecology

Gamma Detection System
1 funded at $56,300
The VGH operating rooms need a new gamma-radiation detection system (GDS), featuring control module and probes, for gynecology procedures. A GDS probe is used to assist in tumour identification in gynecologic oncology procedures. Gynecological oncologists can then perform a minimally invasive biopsy to evaluate the potential spread of cancer to lymph node tissues and organs. A new, more efficient GDS is needed to support the increasingly more complex nature of gynecologic oncology procedures.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

TMJ Arthroscope
1 funded at $9,400
The VGH operating rooms need a new temporomandibular (TMJ) arthroscope to support oral surgery. This scope aids the oral surgeon in performing complex, minimally invasive surgery on a patient’s TMJ joint to ease pain and dysfunction in the jaw joint and the muscles that control jaw movement.

Orthopedic Surgery

Drills and Saws
18 funded at $9,925 each = $178,650
The RJH and VGH orthopedic operating rooms require a total of 18 new drills and saws. These heavy-duty surgical tools include six drills, six oscillating precision saws and six reciprocating saws, all used for joint-replacement surgery. The addition of these orthopedic tools will help to shorten wait times for hip and knee replacement surgery on Vancouver Island.

Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery

Infiltration Pump
1 funded at $7,200
The RJH operating rooms need a new infiltration pump. An infiltration pump is used to control bleeding during surgery for burns and other complex wounds; it infiltrates the tissue with saline mixed with epinephrine. The existing infiltration pump does not control the amount of fluid infiltrating the damaged tissue, which its replacement will be able to do, thereby providing a more precise tool for surgeons. RJH is the burn centre for Vancouver Island.

Thoracic Surgery

Video-Assisted Bronchoscope
1 funded at $19,800
The RJH operating rooms need a new video-assisted bronchoscope for thoracic surgical procedures. This type of scope produces high-quality endoscopic images. Thoracic surgery is performed at RJH two to three times each week, with three cases per day. Given the extensive process for sterilizing video-assisted bronchoscopes, the addition of another such scope will ensure equipment availability for all thoracic surgeries.

Video-Assisted Thoracic Instruments
3 funded at $14,250 each = $42,750
The RJH operating rooms need three replacement video-assisted thoracic instruments, which are used during lung surgery to remove one of the lobes of the lungs (lobectomies). Specifically designed for minimally invasive lung surgery, these replacement instruments have dual pivot points and are designed to be inserted through a small incision rather than a large chest opening. This helps to reduce chest trauma in thoracic surgery patients.

Urology

GreenLight Laser Resectoscopes
4 funded at $13,000 each = $52,000
This sophisticated scope is used in the operating rooms at both VGH and RJH to treat enlarged prostates in men. What makes this equipment so revolutionary is a powerful precision laser that treats the prostate with no harm to surrounding tissue. It enables surgeons to precisely target specific areas as small as 2mm. Healing and recuperation time are minimal and patients can return to their normal routines often the same day. The GreenLight Laser Resectoscope can prevent the need for a catheter entirely. Another major advantage of this equipment is it allows surgeons to safely operate on patients taking blood-thinners (a very common medication among older men). The precise laser technology all but eliminates the risk of bleeding.

Urology Camera Heads
6 funded at $7,875 each = $47,250
The operating rooms at VGH and RJH need new camera heads to help surgeons capture high-definition still and video images of urology procedures related to prostate health. The tool allows surgeons to analyze what is going on in a patient’s body by looking through a camera head instead of directly into the body. This advanced diagnostic tool not only provides a clear and accurate picture of the prostate, it also offers a higher level of safety for surgeons by creating distance between themselves and the patient. This helps prevent repetitive stress injuries caused by repeatedly turning the neck.

These two pieces of equipment are essential not only for urology patients, but for a variety of other patients as well. They help many men receiving care for other health concerns which can lead to urinary issues – cardiac surgery, hip and knee replacements, or vascular surgery for example. It is common for urinary concerns to develop as a complication from various other surgeries, but having this equipment available means doctors can quickly and safely treat problems as they arise.

Vascular Surgery

Transcranial Doppler
1 funded at $41,800
The RJH vascular operating room needs a new transcranial doppler. This specialized ultrasound machine produces images of cerebral arteries and is used during carotid surgery. It aids vascular surgeons in the detection of cerebral emboli in stroke patients.

Neurosurgery

Neurosurgery Monitor
1 funded at $73,600
The VGH neurosurgery operating room needs a new monitor for brain and spinal cord procedures. Part of a surgical navigation system, a new high-resolution monitor with tough-screen application will allow neurosurgeons to manipulate images and trajectories during surgery.

Spine Positioning Equipment Set
2 funded at $5,000 each = $10,000
The VGH neurosurgery operating room needs two new spine positioning equipment sets for back surgeries. This equipment positions patients securely and safely during various spine surgeries.

Spine Instrumentation Set
1 funded at $22,900
The VGH neurosurgery operating room needs a new spine instrumentation set for back surgeries. These essential tools assist neurosurgeons to perform various spinal surgeries on a daily basis.

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