Riverview Medical Center Adopts SPY(R) Technology Providing a Roadmap to Improve Surgery for Cancer Patients
Riverview is the first hospital in New Jersey to provide SPY Imaging for patients A new device designed to help surgeons see blood supply during surgery is now at Riverview Medical Center.
- (1888PressRelease) January 31, 2011 - Red Bank, NJ - A new device designed to help surgeons see blood supply during surgery is now at Riverview Medical Center. SPYŽ Imaging System is a blood supply imaging system developed by Novadaq Technologies to give surgeons state-of-the-art medical advantages. Negin Griffith, M.D., board-certified plastic surgeon at Riverview and John Taylor, M.D., board-certified plastic surgeon at Riverview are the first surgeons in New Jersey routinely using the SPYŽ Imaging System during plastic reconstructive procedures to help reduce complications and improve the surgical treatment of breast and various cancers, traumatic injuries, and congenital deformities.
During plastic reconstructive surgery, ensuring optimal blood flow to tissue is critical to achieving optimal procedural and cosmetic results. Lack of optimal blood flow can lead to complications, such as healing problems, partial or total "flap" or tissue loss, the need for repeat surgery, and can ultimately delay planned cancer therapy. SPY is the only imaging technology that allows surgeons to constantly monitor the quality of blood flow in tissue, in real-time, during the course of reconstructive surgery.
"SPY can reduce the potential for costly post-operative complications and can help surgeons achieve superior procedural results," says Dr. Griffith. "This innovative technology allows us to avoid significant complications like skin necrosis and open wounds that can result in repeat operations.'
SPY is used during breast and numerous plastic reconstruction surgeries, and allows surgeons to see blood flow at every step of the operation. The reason this matters - a reported 20% complication rate occurs because of poor blood flow - leading to repeat procedures, partial loss of the newly reconstructed breast, and ultimately delays in follow up cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy and radiation. Naturally, these complications and delays have a significant impact on women emotionally, physically, and even financially.
"Surgeons will often take a "wait and see" approach to tissue that has questionable blood flow and viability, using qualitative criteria to evaluate the patient over time," says Dr. Taylor. "SPY now allows us to use quantitative data to look at tissue real-time in the O.R., saving some patients from a return trip to correct a problem later. We have been finding it to be very useful in evaluating our success at re-establishing blood flow in microsurgical flaps for reconstruction, but we are finding numerous applications in other types of surgery as well."
SPY imaging has been featured in the leading textbook of reconstructive surgery and more than 40 medical journal articles. Its use in plastic reconstructive surgery has been shown in clinical studies to reduce the incidence of serious post-operative complications from national averages of 15%-20% to virtually zero.
About Riverview Medical Center
Riverview Medical Center, a member of the Meridian Health Family, is a 471-bed not-for-profit community hospital located on the Navesink River in Red Bank, New Jersey. Riverview Medical Center provides health care programs and services in all major medical disciplines including: maternity, oncology, orthopedics and rehabilitation, neurology, thoracic and vascular surgery, cardiology, renal dialysis, diabetes management, and emergency and critical care services. Riverview's Jane H. and John Marshall Booker Cancer Center offers comprehensive cancer services close to home, while Riverview's Jane H. Booker Women and Children's Center combines expertise and convenience to address preventative health, diagnosis, treatment, and support for women of all ages. Riverview Rehabilitation Center is Monmouth County's only fully-accredited inpatient rehabilitation facility, and Riverview is a designated Primary Stroke Center and has also maintained prestigious Magnet designation for Nursing Excellence since 1998. For more information about Riverview Medical Center and Meridian Health, please call 1-800-DOCTORS or visit www.riverviewmedicalcenter.com .
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