New surgical equipment enhances recovery
L-R: Dr. Amanda Morris, HSC Site Director, and Dr. Margaret Burnett, HSC Gynecologist, using HSC Foundation donor-funded laparoscopic equipment for a gynecological procedure.
HSC gynecologist Dr. Margaret Burnett recently treated a patient who was seven weeks pregnant. The young mother had experienced some worrisome spotting and made her way to HSC. An emergency ultrasound showed that the woman had a tubal pregnancy—the most common type of ectopic pregnancy—meaning that the fertilized egg had implanted itself in one of her fallopian tubes instead of the womb.
“Her tubal pregnancy could have burst at any moment, causing life-threatening internal bleeding,” says Dr. Burnett.
Fortunately for the patient, HSC’s new, donor-funded laparoscopic surgical equipment for gynecology was up and running. Dr. Burnett was able to perform a minimally invasive procedure that saved the patient’s life. With laparoscopic surgery, the surgeon makes only small incisions in the abdomen, inserts a camera, and views her work on a high-definition monitor in real-time.
“The patient was able to go home the next day to recover and cope with loss of her pregnancy in the company of her husband, her toddler, and other loved ones,” says Dr. Burnett. “Without this upgraded equipment, we likely would have had to perform an open surgery which would have meant a longer hospital stay, more post-operative pain, more blood loss, and a higher risk of complications. With laparoscopic surgery, the patient experience is an order of magnitude better.”
Dr. Burnett and her colleagues collectively treat more than one hundred ectopic pregnancies per year, often in the middle of the night in the hospital’s main operating rooms. When state-of-the-art laparoscopic equipment was not available, more open surgeries were necessary and overall hospital resources were stretched.
HSC gynecologist Dr. Margaret Burnett: “Having this designated, reliable, modern equipment is good for the safety and well-being of our patients. It contributes to timely discharge and eases surgical recovery.”
A targeted HSC Foundation campaign, led by Board member Katie Hall Hursh, raised over $100,000 in 2023 to upgrade surgical equipment in the main hospital as well as HSC Women’s Hospital. While patients dealing with ectopic pregnancies will be the primary beneficiaries, the equipment is also being used for treatment of endometriosis, ovarian torsion, and other gynecological conditions.
“Having this designated, reliable, modern equipment is good for the safety and well-being of our patients. It contributes to timely discharge and eases surgical recovery. These factors are so important when dealing with the grief of pregnancy loss,” said Dr. Burnett. “We are grateful to the HSC Foundation and its donors for helping us offer better, safer care for our patients in distress.”
On International Women’s Day, we thank donors who helped purchase this equipment and who continue to support women’s health care at HSC Winnipeg. To make your gift today in support of patient care, please click here, or call 204-953-2798 or 1-800-679-8493 (toll-free).
