Victoria Hospital/Radiology Unit-State-of-the-art MRI scan machine for more precise diagnosis |08 November 2007
The new machine, which has been in operation since August, has so far scanned around 160 patients with the authorisation of their treating specialists, according to Joseph Bistoquet, one of four radiologists attending patients undergoing such examinations.
The radiologist pointed out that the MRI scan is not replacing the CT scan which patients are more used to, but will complement one another in determining a patient’s condition. He said the CT scan is best for cases of emergency as it can give quick results while the MRI examination takes more time.
All the same, he again stressed that whether a patient’s condition will need a CT scan or an MRI examination or both will depend on the treating specialists.
For his part, orthopaedic surgeon Danny Louange said that the new MRI scan will help him a lot in his field of work.
“It will allow certain diagnosis which so far X-rays and CT scans could not do,” he said.
With the new MRI scan, patients can now be diagnosed with better precision and at reduced costs without the inconvenience of having to travel overseas, he said.
The MRI scan, which is an imaging technique that uses magnetism, radio waves and computer to produce images of body structures, is considered an invaluable asset when dealing with problems associated with the spine.
The MRI scan can also evaluate the structure of the heart and aorta where it can detect internal tears. Furthermore it can provide valuable information on glands and organs within the abdomen and give accurate information about the structure of joints, soft tissue and bone of the body, etc…
The need for the hospital to have an MRI scan machine was presented to President James Michel during one of his visits of the Victoria Hospital in 2006 and it was in the government’s plans to purchase the machine when a local firm called Sunshine Properties Pty Ltd offered to make a private donation of this invaluable piece of equipment.
The firm’s representative, Sam Andrade, said that “after discussions with the government, it was decided that this piece of equipment was the best gift that could be given to the Seychellois people”.
Apart from funding the purchase of the machine, the firm also agreed to its installation and commissioning complete with a training package.
When the machine arrived in July from supplier Hitachi from Japan, specialized teams from Singapore, Japan, China and Mauritius were on hand at different stages of the installation. Additional training was arranged for the Department of Health radiology staff who were sent overseas for specialized training. Application training was conducted on site by Hitachi engineers and application specialists.