BEST HOSPITALS tem , which enables the surgeon to operate using a forceps-like master control while viewing highly-magnified 3D images of the interior of the body . The robotic arms are inserted through tiny surgical cuts and act as an extension of the surgeon ’ s arm , mirroring every hand movement . With the Da Vinci surgical system , delicate and complex operations can be performed safely , deftly and accurately .
Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital also houses the only Gamma Knife Centre in Singapore , where Gamma Knife radiosurgery is offered . Performed as an outpatient surgical procedure , Gamma Knife radiosurgery uses precise gamma rays to treat brain disorders without the need for open surgery , thereby allowing patients to return home on the same day .
Well-equipped for complex surgeries and critical care MEH also leverages on modern equipment and facilities to achieve favourable surgical outcomes . For example , Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital is fitted with a purposebuilt hybrid operating theatre that enables collaboration between surgeons and interventional radiologists . By incorporating surgical facilities in the same space as advanced diagnostic equipment such as computed tomography ( CT ) and magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI ) machines , surgeons can carry out complex procedures in an effective way that minimises risks and shortens recovery times for patients .
The Intensive Care Unit ( ICU ) is located close to the operating theatres so that patients can receive emergency treatment in the shortest possible time . Patients ’ vital signs are transmitted to a central nursing station manned round the clock by qualified nurses , allowing the ICU team to respond to any changes swiftly and efficiently . With a ceiling-mounted service unit to deliver critical power and house medical
equipment , the beds in the ICU are no longer tethered to the wall and can be rotated and positioned freely to the most optimum environment . The facility is furthermore well-supported by board-certified specialists and seasoned critical care nurses , nurse practitioners and physician assistants , all of whom are committed to providing a high level of clinical care .
Charting frontiers in clinical treatments Among hospitals in Southeast Asia , MEH took the lead in launching the Urolift procedure , a minimally invasive day surgery to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia ( BPH ). As UroLift is performed in the office under local anaesthesia , patients experience a shorter recovery time and can return to daily activities sooner . Urolift is also available at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital .
In June 2020 , Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital started offering Rezum water vapour therapy , a minimally invasive procedure to help treat male patients with enlarged prostates . Rezum makes use of the thermal energy in steam to reduce the size of the enlarged prostate and provides prompt recovery and limited side effects , with no need for medication to manage the condition .
In July the same year , CorPath GRX was introduced in Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital . This robotic-assisted platform is designed to provide enhanced control and robotic precisions for doctors performing interventional procedures such as percutaneous coronary intervention ( PCI ) and percutaneous vascular intervention ( PVI ).
In April 2021 , MEH spearheaded private hospitals in Singapore to conduct minimally invasive parafascicular surgery ( MIPS ) using the BrainPath approach . With the BrainPath approach , neurosurgeons are able to remove deep and / or previously inoperable blood clots or brain tumours with little to no trauma to the patient . This surgery allows the preservation of brain tissues and is less invasive than traditional craniotomies . There is also reduced mortality with improved clinical outcomes and functional status .
Looking forward to the future , MEH is building a facility with the proton therapy system , widely considered to be one of the most advanced forms of radiotherapy in the fight against cancer . The unique dose deposition that proton therapy offers allows cancerous tumours to be targeted more effectively than in other treatments , and consequently offers the potential for reduced secondary effects . The new proton therapy centre will be housed at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital , where it will augment MEH ’ s position as the preferred and trusted healthcare provider in Singapore and Southeast Asia .
GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com NOVEMBER 2021
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