The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) will be the first paediatric hospital in Australia to offer intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), changing the face of neurosurgery and cardiac procedures for Australian children.
The RCH Foundation announced at its annual dinner last night it would purchase the leading edge IMRIScardio intraoperative MRI system at a cost of $12,650,000.
The IMRIS system will enable surgeons to perform MRI scans during brain surgery without the need to leave theatre or move the patient from the table, enhancing patient safety.
In addition to a neurosurgery operating room, the complete IMRIS suite
will include an interventional theatre for cardiac procedures and a diagnostic centre – the three room configuration an Australian first and a paediatric world first.
The high-field MR scanner can be deployed into any of the three rooms, allowing rapid and efficient transitions between imaging and surgery. On demand, the scanner will rotate into position and slide smoothly into the required room. Images can be taken before, during and after procedures.
RCH Director of Neurosurgery, Ms Wirginia Maixner, says the intra-operative MRI system will make an incredible difference to patient outcomes.
“Many children with brain malformations and tumours have lesions that are relatively indistinct to the naked eye but clearly visible on MR imaging. Currently these children may have incomplete resections (surgery that removes only part of the lesion), subjecting them to further surgery and the possibility of impaired patient outcome,” Ms Maixner said.
“Intraoperative MRI enables real time information to be obtained about the resection margins improving accuracy and completeness of resection. With the IMRIS system this information can be acquired without moving the patient, leading to a significant improvement in patient safety.
“This is a marvellous advance, enabling surgery to occur in areas of the brain previously not possible,“ she said.
Cardiac investigations and procedures will also benefit. Currently, these procedures rely on x-ray imaging. The complementary use of intraoperative MRI would reduce the length of time x-ray imaging is required, thereby significantly reducing the dose of radiation the patient receives.
It is estimated the system will directly benefit around 1,000 patients per year at the RCH.
The purchase of the IMRIS system by the RCH Foundation is possible through the Good Friday Appeal, which shows the great support of the people of Victoria to the RCH.
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“This is the type of world leading equipment the RCH Foundation is passionate about supporting. It is a testament to the generosity of the people of Victoria that such an Australian first is possible,” RCH Foundation Executive Director Sue Hunt said.
“The hospital and the Foundation are blessed indeed to have the support of the Good Friday Appeal and other donations from the public that allow us to achieve such excellence,” she said.
Good Friday Appeal Executive Director Christine Unsworth says Victorians should be proud of their contribution.
“This is a perfect example of the very real difference Good Friday Appeal supporters can make to the health of Victoria’s children. The ongoing generosity of the community ensures the RCH continues to provide world class care to every young patient,” she said.
The IMRIS system will be installed in the new RCH, which will open late 2011. It will operate in addition to the two existing stationary MRI machines at the RCH.