New angiography unit for Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital

A new $2.2 million medical imaging unit at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital will ensure world-class care for patients with blood clots and blocked arteries, Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today.

Mr Robertson said the angiography unit is used to capture a three-dimensional picture of blood vessels to better diagnose and treat vascular conditions.

“Just as a normal x-ray shows the bones in the body, the angiography unit produces an image of arteries, veins, capillaries and anything else that carries blood through the body,” he said.

“Radiologists can capture a three-dimensional digital picture, allowing them to better diagnose and treat poor blood flow in arteries from the heart and blood clots (aneurysms) in the brain.

“This helps with intervention such as inserting a catheter or metal stents to open blood vessels and improve blood flow.”

Mr Robertson said the unit was the third of its kind in Queensland and would be used by more than 2,500 patients every year.

“A solution is injected into the patient and the angiography unit provides a “radiological visualisation” of blood vessels with three-dimensional x-ray data,” he said.

“Having such a specialised machine on site means that Queensland Health radiologists can perform more interventional procedures confidently and safely and patients can avoid surgery.

“Not only are the risks associated with surgery avoided, recuperation times are significantly shorter with patients able to return to work within days of having the procedure.”

Mr Robertson said the new life-saving equipment also improved the chances of diagnosing and treating aneurysms in the brain and haemorrhages that may have formed.

He said RBWH had this year employed five new radiologists and four radiographers to boost services in the medical imaging department.


18 May, 2007

MEDIA:     MATTHEW JUTSUM     3225 2680