With your support, emergency, minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery will be available to gynecology patients around the clock

This $75,000 software integration will allow for gynecological surgeries to be performed 24/7 at HSC Winnipeg Women’s Hospital.

Health Sciences Centre is seeking $105,000 to upgrade existing surgical equipment so that women requiring emergency gynecological treatment can get access to the best technology available—any time of day or night—without bumping any scheduled procedures.

What is Laparoscopic Surgery?

In contrast to conventional open surgery, which requires large incisions, laparoscopic surgery involves small cuts and the insertion of small scopes and instruments. Surgeons can see their work on high-definition monitors. This minimally invasive approach means less risk and less pain for the patient, shorter recovery times, and excellent surgical outcomes.

The Current State; The Way Forward

Currently, emergency gynecological surgeries are performed at HSC Women’s Hospital between the hours of 7:30 am and 3:30 pm. The laparoscopic equipment in what’s known as “the swing room” is operational, but not fully integrated with the advanced software systems that run the other two operating rooms in the facility. With the software integration, the “swing room” can be used for all manner of emergency surgery, without having to bump scheduled surgeries from the other two operating rooms. The cost of the software integration is approximately $75,000.

Outside of HSC Women’s Hospital hours, emergency gynecological surgeries are performed in the main operating room at HSC. These surgeries are performed with obsolete equipment that requires frequent troubleshooting and repair. A new, donor-funded laparoscopic tower has recently been designated for gynecological procedures, but the system requires an equipment bundle that is specific for gynecological needs. The cost of the equipment bundle is approximately $30,000.

When fully funded, this campaign will ensure that hundreds of Manitoba women a year will have access to safe, advanced, minimally invasive surgical care whenever they need it.

Emergency gynecological surgeries include procedures for:

• Ovarian torsion (when the ovary twists around the tissue that supports it)
• Ectopic pregnancy (when a fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus)

The HSC Winnipeg Women’s Hospital opened to the public in December 2019.

“We have both witnessed the exciting and important impact that donors have on the advancement of health care at HSC. With your support, and along with our colleagues, we can provide even better emergency surgical care to gynecology patients—the type of care, with state-of-the-art tools, that all Manitobans deserve. Thank you for your support!”
— Dr. Erin Dean and Dr. Michael Boroditsky

To donate please contact Tansey Buike, CFRE, Senior Fundraiser by email, or call 204-953-2798 or 1-800-679-8493 (toll-free).