Inside our new hybrid operating theatre

This summer Healora General Hospital opened a hybrid operating theatre in Building B, next to our cardiac catheterisation lab. It is one of only a few in the region, and it changes how our cardiac, vascular and spine teams can care for patients with complex conditions.

What makes a theatre “hybrid”?

A hybrid theatre brings together two rooms that are usually separate: a fully equipped operating theatre and an imaging suite. Inside one sterile space, the team has:

• a high-resolution X-ray system that moves around the patient on a robotic arm
• large screens that show live images next to the patient’s vital signs
• everything needed for open surgery, should it become necessary

What it means for patients

Before, some patients needed a procedure in the imaging lab and then a second one in theatre, sometimes days apart. Now both can happen in one visit. For many people this means:

1. a single anaesthetic instead of two
2. smaller cuts, less pain and a shorter stay
3. faster decisions, because the whole team sees the same images at the same time
4. a safer environment for high-risk procedures

Who will benefit

The theatre is used for procedures such as heart valve replacements through a small tube instead of open-heart surgery, repairs of the aorta, complex vascular procedures and precise spine surgery. Our cardiology, orthopedics and vascular teams plan each case together.

“Having imaging and surgery in the same room means we can adapt in real time. For our patients that means fewer procedures, shorter stays and safer surgery.” — Dr. Sophia Reed, Chief Cardiac Surgeon

Built with the team

Surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses and radiographers helped design the room, from the position of the screens to the lighting and the space around the table. Before the first patient, the team spent weeks running full rehearsals for every type of procedure.

Safety first

The room was designed to keep radiation doses as low as possible for patients and staff. The imaging system adjusts its dose automatically, the team wears protective shields, and every procedure is recorded so doses can be reviewed. Air in the theatre is filtered and changed many times an hour, as in our other operating theatres, to keep infection risk low.

Visiting the hospital

The theatre is located in Building B, Level 2. If you or a family member is scheduled for a procedure there, your care team will send a short guide to preparing for surgery, parking and visiting times. Our patient liaison desk on the ground floor is happy to help with any questions.

What comes next

The hybrid theatre is part of a wider investment in our surgical services. Later this year we will extend the cardiac rehabilitation gym and add four beds to the cardiac intensive care unit. We will share updates here as each project opens.

This article describes services at Healora Hospital. It is general information, not medical advice.