A Fort Lauderdale, Florida, referral hospital is heralding the acquisition of two high-tech pieces of equipment: a CT scanner and a blood cell washer.
The Toshiba Aquilion 16 CT scanner delivers 16-slice, 3-D diagnostic images of patients’ tissues, organs and other internal structures. The Haemonetics Cell Saver 5+ Autologous Blood Recovery System allows surgeons and critical care specialists to capture, clean and reuse blood lost during an operation or during treatment of a traumatic injury, reducing the need for blood transfusions.
“We’re constantly searching for new ways to improve our hospital’s treatment capabilities and provide the best care for the pets that are brought through our doors,” said Ira Zaslow, DVM, DACVECC, the founder of Lauderdale Veterinary Specialists. “We are already seeing the benefits of this new technology with several of our patients. Saving just one more life of a cat, dog or other animal makes this investment entirely worthwhile.”
Dr. Zaslow did not reveal what he paid for the new equipment. The price of a new Aquilion 16 is in the six figures, not counting the expense of a dedicated, specially shielded room in which to house it.
The purchases came almost a year after Lauderdale Veterinary Specialists opened a new physical therapy and rehabilitation area. An underwater treadmill and a gait-analyzing treadmill are among the rehabilitation tools utilized.
“We continue to do our best to innovate the level of veterinary medicine available to the pets we care for,” Dr. Zaslow said. “We not only try to care for pets during an illness or injury, but also during the recovery process.”