Point-of-care ultrasound helps intercontinental humanitarian efforts

Radiologist Angela Cepero was part of the team using point-of-care ultrasound to provide critical medical assistance.

Source: FUJIFILM SonoSite

Angela Cepero, team member and radiologist, described the recent trip: “This summer, a group of healthcare professionals – the majority from the Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca (HCUVA) in Murcia, Spain – travelled to Kenya in partnership with the Spanish NGO Cirugía Solidaria. We brought along surgical equipment – from beds to lamps to scalpels – to create a first-rate hospital set-up, most of which was donated by HCUVA. Before we went out, the Diagrama Foundation, in collaboration with Kenyan healthcare professionals and the authorities, sent out an awareness campaign that advertised when we were coming, the diseases we were targeting and the surgical procedures we were offering.”

“Over the course of two weeks, we carried out over 600 operations, and more than 250 ultrasound scans to support the surgical team. Ultrasound was essential to the work that we did, whether we were picking up diseases, or distinguishing between patients who needed surgical intervention and those who could be treated as outpatients. It is essential for diagnosing cancerous and normal lesions in the breast or thyroid, carrying out nerve blocks, or providing imaging during surgery. It is quite unbelievable that a portable device can provide such amazing image quality. In addition, it is a lightweight system that is well suited to being continually moved from consultation room to operating theatre and can withstand a few knocks and drops. It is easy to change the probes and the system boots up again very quickly, making it ideal for emergency situations, where time is of the essence. ”

“I’ve been delighted with the SonoSite instrument. We couldn’t do the work we do without SonoSite’s support and cooperation; its systems are the only portable ultrasound instruments I would consider taking with me.”

Source: FUJIFILM Sonosite

14.11.2017

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