Winnipeg’s Victoria Hospital upgrading surgical theatre, plans to revamp older suites

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A surgeon at Winnipeg’s Victoria Hospital says new technology being used to upgrade a surgical suite will make operations run smoother and lead to better outcomes for patients. 

In August, surgical theatre four — an integrated suite that runs on equipment from 2015 — will be renovated to add more than $430,000 of new technology intended to improve the quality of visuals that surgeons rely on during operations. 

The hospital’s surgical site lead, Dr. Chris Andrew, said the new equipment won’t look all that different from the existing equipment. The new monitors might be slightly larger and newer, but the quality of visuals they can provide will make a “massive difference” for health-care professionals that will eventually use it every day, he said.  

“When you’re operating on somebody and you’re magnified, every detail counts. This makes a big difference in terms of operation efficiency, operation success, and obviously that leads to better outcomes for patients,” said Andrew, who has been a surgeon for more than two decades. 

“It’s the difference between going from early high-definition TV to the current 4K type picture,” he said, adding the visuals will be “vastly improved.”

Dr. Chris Andrew, surgical site lead at Victoria Hospital in Winnipeg, said upgrades to surgical theatre four will make operations run smoother, leading to better heath outcomes for patients. (Prabhjot Singh Lotey/CBC)

Andrew said the hospital performs more than 7,000 surgeries and 6,000 endoscopies per year. While he couldn’t confirm whether the upgrades will bump up those totals, he said it’s possible. 

“Typically, improving technology does lead to more efficient surgery and safer surgery,” he said.

Theatre four is already an integrated suite, Andrew said, meaning specialized monitors that can be used across several surgical specialties drop down from the ceiling and reduce the reliance on wired mobile equipment.

The hospital is also looking to convert two older operating rooms into integrated suites, while adding in upgraded technology.

Jessica Miller, chief executive officer of the Victoria Hospital Foundation, said these upgrades would likely cost around $800,000 per suite. 

The money for theatre four’s upcoming renovations was provided by the foundation’s donors, Miller said. But they’re still raising money to upgrade the next two.

Miller said the foundation is also raising money to help turn their urgent care facility into a full emergency room again, which she expects will require several million dollars on their end.

Andrew said adding the latest surgical technology at Victoria Hospital may also attract high-quality surgeons to work there. 

But he said the whole team’s ultimate goal for working with the new technology is “better patient care and better outcomes.”

WATCH | New equipment at Victoria Hospital will lead to better patient outcomes:

New equipment at Victoria Hospital will lead to better patient outcomes, surgeon says

A surgical ward at Victoria Hospital with equipment from 2015 will be getting $430,000 in new technology.