Nawaloka first to offer FDA approved liver elastography

Tuesday, 31 March 2015 01:21 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Liver diseases can result from a wide range of causes including increased alcohol consumption, diabetes, hepatitis, dengue and viral flu. Doctors need to closely monitor liver damage in these patients as reversible conditions like fatty liver and early stages of alcohol damage can progress to Cirrhosis.

Looking to simplify liver assessment while maintaining high levels of accuracy, Nawaloka Hospitals acquired the Philips EPIQ 5 Ultrasound system. Offering a welcome alternative to invasive procedures such as biopsies, Nawaloka will use the EPIQ5 for shear wave liver elastography – a fast, easy and non-invasive method of obtaining liver tissue stiffness data. “Shear wave liver elastography done using the EPIQ 5 will offer doctors a non-invasive means of obtaining critical data early in the diagnostic process, helping them to stage the degree of liver fibrosis that occurs in most types of chronic liver diseases more accurately and determine the course of treatment. For patients, this translates into an accurate yet quick diagnosis that is both painless and cost effective,” said Nawaloka Hospital Consultant Radiologist Dr. A. Nirmala I. Wijesinha. Featuring a host of Philips’ proprietary cutting edge technologies, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved EPIQ is the most intelligent Philips premium ultrasound to date. The EPIQ5 uses revolutionary new imaging technology called nSIGHT for shear wave liver electrography, which together with Philips’ Anatomical Intelligence technology delivers a powerful combination of speed and image clarity. The system’s imaging capabilities will help streamline patient management from the initial consultation to treatment planning, procedures and long-term monitoring. Speaking at the launch of the system, Nawaloka Hospital Director/General Manager Professor Lal Chandrasena said, “At Nawaloka, we have always sought to bring the latest in medical technology to Sri Lanka in a bid to provide our patrons higher quality of care, cost-effectively. The acquisition of the Philips EPIQ 5 Ultrasound System is yet another step in this direction. Creating ultrasound images without compromise, the EPIQ 5 will help us provide quick and accurate liver diagnosis.”