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A family, who wish to remain anonymous, have donated a €30,000 ultrasound machine to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Galway University Hospitals where a member of the family was successfully treated for H1N1 influenza induced Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, a life-threatening illness, last year.
The H1N1 surge, which hit Ireland during December 2010 and January 2011, put unprecedented pressure on Intensive Care Units in the country. The Intensive Care Unit at GUH was operating at 120% capacity during the surge with nursing and medical staff working additional shifts to cope with demand.
Professor John Laffey, Consultant Anaesthetist at Galway University Hospitals, said: "The donation of the ultrasound machine was an extremely generous gesture by this family. This machine is state of the art and will enhance our care of severely ill patients in the ICU.
“This ultrasound machine enables us to carry out complex procedures at the bedside, such as tracheostomy insertion or insertion of tubes into veins. This is a major advance as the device is small and portable yet the high resolution pictures it provides allows us to see important structures (arteries, nerves and veins) under the skin in real time.”
Dr Kevin Clarkson, Consultant Intensivist and Chairman of the Medical Board of Galway University Hospitals commented: “We see almost 1,400 patients in the ICU area every year and the majority are admitted because of severe lung and systemic organ failure.
“The ages range from infancy to the oldest and are amongst the most vulnerable patients in the hospital. Many of the patients are gravely ill and we have trained specialist nurses and doctors dedicated solely to get these patients back to health as quickly as possible.
“It is not always possible due to the nature of some patients’ illnesses, but medical and technological advances such as the new ultrasound machine make it possible to more safely care for patients and save more people’s lives every year.
"Professor Laffey and his research team at NUI Galway are currently exploring the potential benefits of newer treatments such as statins and gene and stem cell therapies, for these patients.
“This interaction between clinicians and scientists ensures that we can deliver the best possible care and offers hope that we will find better treatments for patients with acute lung failure in the coming years.”