Description

Dierenkliniek den Heuvel is a large, well-equipped clinic for the treatment of companion animals. Every day, many dozens of pets (dogs, cats, rabbits, rodents, birds, reptiles) are examined and treated in the first-line practice by one of the five vets. In addition, in recent years the clinic has developed into a (second-line) referral centre for medical imaging. The clinic has a low-field Esaote MRI system and a 16-slice (Philips Brilliance) CT scanner. In addition, many ultrasound examinations are performed using an Esaote MyLab-50 system, and many radiographs are taken daily.
CT and MRI have become indispensable diagnostic tools in medicine. In veterinary medicine, they are relatively new phenomena. The first veterinary used CT and MRI systems were at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Utrecht. These were used very extensively, and were not 'on demand' accessible and available to practising veterinarians. In addition, very occasionally, illegally and thus surreptitiously, systems in hospitals were used. Since then, many veterinary practices and clinics in the region, and far beyond, have discovered the benefits of having CT or MRI done in Best. By far the majority of scans are made at the request of referring colleagues from the Netherlands and abroad.
The lecture/excursion will explain the considerations that led Best to initially install an MRI system, followed a few years later by a CT scanner. What were difficulties encountered in the initial phase, and how did it eventually become a success. Using patient case studies, the (im)possibilities of MRI and CT for veterinary practice will be discussed.

Speaker(s)

Erik Noorman, veterinary surgeon, has been with the clinic since 1983. More than 50% of his work now consists of medical imaging.

Location

Den Heuvel veterinary clinic,

Oirschotseweg 113A, 5684 NH Best

Organiser

Southern Region

Medical Technology

Name and contact details for information

ing. Koos Mulder, 06-39681065 or at the e-mail address below

koos.mulder@ziggo.nl