Advanced imaging

QEII Health Sciences Centre patients with heart disease, brain tumours, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, aneurysms and some cancers now have access to the most sophisticated MRI system in Atlantic Canada.

Thanks to QEII Foundation donors, $3.1 million was raised for a new 3T MRI system, including a significant $2.5 million gift from the Gauthier and David families.

With this new 3T MRI, the QEII’s diagnostic imaging department can now scan an additional 50 clinical patient cases a week. While patients requiring urgent exams will continue to receive MRIs as soon as possible, having the additional 3T will lower the elective waitlist by two days every month.

The QEII has more than one million patient visits a year from across Atlantic Canada, with the diagnostic imaging department receiving 350,000 visits. With patients having earlier access to diagnostic services, health providers can make more timely and accurate decisions about future care options, making a significant difference in a patient’s outcome.

The high-strength imaging capability of the new 3T MRI is also enabling advanced education opportunities and new research studies to progress beyond what was originally possible in Nova Scotia. Having the 3T MRI further enhances the QEII’s health research and academic mandate, product development and commercialization ability.

New MRI app to help children

A new iPad app will help technicians evaluate a child’s ability to complete a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) procedure without being given a general anesthetic. If successful it could also result in lower costs and shorter wait times in delivering the necessary service.

Currently, there is no way to evaluate if a child between five and 11 years of age will be able to lie still long enough to complete an MRI or if a general anesthetic will be required.

The app was developed by Halifax, NS-based Current Studios, in collaboration with Dr. Jill Chorney, a clinical psychologist with the complex pain team at the IWK and an associate professor in anesthesia, pain management and perioperative medicine at Dalhousie University, and Dr. Pierre Schmit of the department of diagnostic imaging at the IWK, and an associate professor of radiology and pediatrics.

“This game has the potential to make an MRI less threatening and may be able to help some children avoid long waits for general anesthesia,” says Dr. Chorney.

To use the app, parents of a child scheduled for an MRI simply download the application onto their tablet device and encourage the child to play a game that involves a monkey carrying a bucket of water on its head. If the child moves, the bucket falls off the monkey’s head; the child’s progress, failures and successes are all fed back to a dashboard that allows the MRI technicians to evaluate and help decide if the child will require anesthesia or not.

“The app will train the children undergoing an MRI to stay still for longer and longer periods,” says Dr. Schmit. “Children will be able to play the same game during the exam and the induced distraction will further reduce anxiety and decrease the need for sedation.”

The waiting time for an MRI with general anesthetic is double the waiting time for an MRI without. General anesthetics also carry a slight risk of minor adverse events and cost approximately $614 more than procedures without anesthesia.

Improving cancer care

Each year, more than 2,000 Nova Scotians receive radiation treatment therapy. The announcement of three new linear accelerators coming to the QEII Health Sciences Centre means these patients will have access to the most advanced treatment possible.

Through many donations, the QEII Foundation continues to be part of the improvements in cancer care by partnering with government to provide the latest in equipment and technology.

The QEII Foundation has committed more than $2.7 million for the new linear accelerators, bringing the Foundation’s investment to the QEII’s James and Edna Claydon Radiation Treatment Clinic to more than $6.7 million. Officially opened in October 2012, the new clinic was a more than $20-million expansion to the current treatment clinic at the QEII.

The new linear accelerators will replace aging equipment. Linear accelerators produce x-rays for treating cancer patients and deliver a uniform dose of high-energy x-ray (radiation) to the region of the patient’s tumour, avoiding surrounding normal tissue.

As the referral centre for specialized services, such as cancer care treatment, the QEII holds an important role in the lives of Nova Scotians.

Safety connection

Child Safety Link (CSL), a Maritime-wide child and youth injury prevention program at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax, launched a new website, Facebook page and Twitter site recently, as part of their anniversary celebrations.

Started in November 2012, CSL’s mission is to reduce the incidence and severity of injury to children and youth by ensuring families and professionals have easy access to up-to-date child and youth injury prevention resources and educational materials, as well as the latest news items.

The CSL website is a vital community relations and public awareness vehicle, reaching both families with young children and professionals who work with families, such as police and public health professionals across the Maritimes.

Injury prevention information is outlined by the age and stage of the child, with links to publications and research, videos and educational resources on topics such as home safety, poisoning prevention, child passenger safety and brain injury awareness. (Note: All educational resources are also available in French and easily accessible from the website.)

For the latest in children’s injury prevention news, check out the new website at: childsafetylink.ca, or follow CSL on Facebook or Twitter (@ChildSafetyLink).