October 6, 2023
When it comes to surgery, there are a number of factors that place a patient at risk. While these risks are discussed with a patient prior to surgery, more often than not, the surgeries proceed with tremendous outcomes.
But, what happens if there is a possibility of reducing risks for the patient? You won’t have to wonder any more. Busamed Hillcrest Private Hospital has proudly announced the acquisition of the O-Arm® – an imaging machine that places patient safety and surgical precision at the centre of its goals.
The O-Arm® offers real-time 3D imaging which helps surgeons gain a comprehensive view of the surgical site, and from multiple angles.
It’s an incalculable leap forward for patients in South Africa because the O-Arm® eliminates the need for multiple x-rays to be taken of the surgical site, allowing for the patient to be laid still and works in a matter of seconds.
What this means for the patient is reduced radiation because the O-Arm® takes a 3D x-ray at one time, reduced time under anaesthesia because time is saved by the O-Arm® in feeding back valuable data to the surgical team and reduced movement of the patient because the O-Arm® fits around the surgical table allowing the patient to lie still.
There are more impressive qualities the O-Arm® affords patients. Dr. Ravel Ramlakan, an orthopaedic surgeon at Busamed Hillcrest Private Hospital says 3D imaging allows for more accurate screw placements or placements of prosthetics. “It offers a level of accuracy that is humanly impossible to achieve without moving the patient and taking several x-rays to get what this machine does in under 15 seconds. That better positioning of screws and fewer incisions which is what we as surgeons aim for but couldn’t always achieve given the limited resources at hand. Now, with the O-Arm®, we’re able to achieve the best possible outcomes for the patient, which is always the goal.”
Dr. Avin Rugnath, a neurosurgeon at Busamed Hillcrest Private Hospital says the O-Arm® augments a skilled surgeon’s technique with its functionality. “Without using the O-Arm®, you’re getting 2 dimensional data to solve a 3 dimensional problem. With the O-Arm®, we’re getting a 3 dimensional view to solve a 3 dimensional problem and the kicker is that we get all this data in mere seconds and with absolutely no burden on the patient.”
Busamed Hillcrest Private Hospital manager Rafeek Nakooda said acquiring the O-Arm® is part of Busamed Group’s overall theme to advocate for safer, more efficient patient outcomes.
“We are embracing technology in surgery and medicine. These acquisitions prioritise patient safety particularly in theatre and drastically improve recovery time. Those two merits alone — and there are many more that the O-Arm® offers – align strongly with who we are as a premium care health provider.”
Key Features of the O-Arm®
This state-of-the-art tool is only one of two in the province. Mr. Nakooda says investing in first world technology for the sake of better patient outcomes will continue to be one of Busamed Hillcrest’s chief aims.
“We are extremely proud to have the O-Arm® as a resource. We believe the acquisition of this breakthrough technology will redefine the landscape of complex surgeries we offer. Ultimately, this ground-breaking technology will transform the health of our patients who need surgical intervention in order to enjoy a better quality of life. Any day that we can enhance our procedures with precision, safety, and the best patient outcomes is a good day for us.”
“The O-Arm® has transformed the way I approach complex surgeries. The ability to seamlessly switch between 2D and 3D imaging has provided me with an unprecedented level of confidence and precision,” says Dr. Ramlakan
“As a neurosurgeon, the O-Arm® has become an indispensable tool in my practice. I am part of the transition generation who performed these surgeries with and without the aid of technology. While it is great and very necessary to know how to operate without it, I can tell you that my skills have been augmented very well with the O-Arm®. Its exceptional imaging capabilities have revolutionised the way I plan and execute procedures,” says Dr. Rugnath.
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