Angiography operating table – why mobile solutions are worth considering?
25 May 2023
Arkadiusz Rogacki, Product Manager WPI
(Workplace Infrastructure)
Interventional cardiology procedures using intraoperative imaging are now very common. Today’s hospitals have more imaging equipment, and surgical teams work closely with radiologists, whether in hybrid operating theaters or separate catheterization or hemodynamics labs. A standard operating room requires an operating table for various surgical disciplines with different patient positioning.
Invasive cardiology, on the other hand, requires an angiographic table with a one-piece top, usually made of carbon fiber, which makes it completely transparent to X-rays. The ALVO Serenada-C mobile angiography table offers an attractive translucency parameter of 0.35 mm Al equivalent / 10 mm tabletop thickness, ensuring high quality X-ray images.
Unlike a standard operating table, an angiography table does not need many positioning options. The most important movement here is the ability to change the position of the tabletop along the longitudinal and transverse axes to provide access to imaging of many areas of the patient’s body during one examination without repositioning the patient.
In the opinion of the users of the ALVO Serenada-C table, intuitive and convenient control of the tabletop movement using a joystick is essential. The operator can control not only the stepless sliding of the tabletop in both directions at the same time (diagonally), but also the movement speed by adjusting the angle of the controller.
It is hard to disagree that advanced stationary imaging systems in hybrid rooms offer the highest image quality. But such solutions are not available in all facilities due to high initial and maintenance costs. They may sometimes limit the possibility of rapid endovascular procedures, giving priority to open or combined, hybrid procedures. In a world where cost, accessibility and effectiveness of care are increasingly under control, there are strong arguments for the use of mobile imaging systems in conjunction with mobile angiography tables.
The latest generation of mobile systems allows the operator to control the imaging mode and position of the C-arm around the table. Combined with a suitable mobile “floating” angiography table, a traditional operating room can be easily transformed into a high-class interventional cardiology laboratory without costly renovation of the existing infrastructure. Mobile systems respond to the needs of modern vascular surgery, as they enable the combination of advanced open and minimally invasive procedures in a standard operating room in a similar way to hybrid rooms with a fixed fluoroscopy table and imaging equipment.
The efficiency of the OR can be maximized thanks to the effective rotation of mobile devices. Such diverse portfolio of imaging and operating environments allows hospitals to tailor care to specific patient needs and optimize surgical workflow. Patient and staff safety is key.
Recently, I talked to the staff of the operating block of the Międzyleski Specialist Hospital in Warsaw, where the ALVO Serenada-C mobile operating table has been used for several months. Endovascular procedures, stenting, ablation, as well as nephrology and other procedures are performed on a regular basis. Clinicians emphasized the importance of patient and staff safety at every stage. Work ergonomics was also of great importance due to the wide range of adjustment of individual device parameters. Intuitive operation of the table’s functional movements, according to the staff, supports the interventional teams, allows new operators to quickly learn and saves time during procedures. User feedback is always a key factor for us when designing or planning improvements to operating tables.
When choosing an angiography table, it is worth considering whether we do need the most expensive and advanced stationary imaging systems. Is having a stationary hybrid operating room justified in our facility? Stationary angiography tables synchronized with the imaging equipment are best suited for complex anatomy where the finest detail and exceptional imaging flexibility are critical for optimal results. For many more routine procedures, mobile angiography tables are a good choice, as they are an economical solution. Some hospitals decide to purchase several systems, which allows for increased number of procedures and technical redundancy in the event of failure of the imaging system or shutdown of the cath lab.