State-of-the-art operating theatres
transform patient care at HMC

QNA
Doha
THE state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging equipment that has been permanently integrated into Hamad General Hospital's operation theatres is revolutionising surgical practice at Hamad Medical Corporation's (HMC) largest hospital and providing patients with even better care.
Earlier this year, Hamad General Hospital inaugurated a new 10,000 square metre operating theatre expansion that features 20 newly equipped surgical theatres. This month another milestone was achieved with the first patient undergoing surgery using the hybrid MRI operating room.
"A hybrid operating room is a surgical theatre that is equipped with advanced medical imaging devices such as a MRI scanner, CT scanner, or an angiogram. At Hamad General Hospital, there are three hybrid operating rooms that have this real-time imaging technology and this will change the way surgeons perform a variety of specialist surgeries, especially neurosurgery. The new Brainlab technology allows for a more precise surgical procedure, enabling minimally-invasive surgeries which are less traumatic for the patient," said Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon and Head of Neurosurgery at HMC Dr Ghanem al Sulaiti.
Commenting on the advantages of such hybrid operating rooms, Dr Sulaiti, who is also president of the Gulf Neurosurgical Society and the Qatar Society for Neurological and Spine Surgery said:"Combining imaging technology with the operating room is transforming surgical care. Surgeons are now collaborating with neuroanesthesiologists, neuroradiologists and neurosurgery staff to make assessments using real-time imaging. Our first case using the hybrid MRI operating room is an important milestone for HMC as it means that patients can now have MRI imaging during surgery."
The opening of the newly equipped surgical theatres and their hybrid operating rooms are part of a wider expansion plan that is revitalising Hamad General Hospital. In addition to the operating theatre expansion, a new 19-bed Trauma Intensive Care Unit and 15-bed Surgical Intensive Care Unit were also opened in June this year.
Dr added,"Hybrid operating rooms provide a number of benefits to patients, including combined procedures previously not possible. With more accurate procedures, patient recovery may also be faster and some patients with conditions that were formerly deemed inoperable may be able to undergo procedures."