Mildura Health Private Hospital (MHPH) has announced its acquisition of a $900,000 state-of-the-art Olympus endoscopy system that will improve patient care in both colonoscopy and enteroscopy and deliver enhanced diagnostic accuracy.

The Olympus endoscopy scope features artificial intelligence for improved polyp detection. The technology is expected to enhance image quality, ease of use, and patient outcomes, with a focus on detecting and removing polyps early, to prevent bowel cancer.

The equipment is notable for its safety, reducing both the risk of complications, and post-procedure pain and it has been welcomed by surgeons operating in MHPH.

“The AI helps with polyp detection, so we're more likely to pick up smaller polyps and with the technology that they've got on these scopes, we will also identify difficult to find polyps,” General Surgeon, Mr. Jim Tryfonopoulos said.

With bowel cancer being the third most common form of cancer in Australia today and mortality rates equally high – over 5.300 people die from it each year – early detection is critical to successful treatment. Mr. Tryfonopoulos and fellow surgeons Ms. Margaret Dunkley, Dr. Tom Gleeson, Mr, Amal Fernando and Dr. Irene Kaibonu, say the Olympus technology is a significant step forward in diagnostics for Mildura patients.

“While the technology will also be useful for the diagnosis of other health complaints including diverticular disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and vascular lesions that might be causing bleeding, such as ulcers, its greatest impact will be in the fight against bowel cancer.

“The key to prevention of bowel cancer is early detection through a colonoscopy or endoscopy. The Olympus scope improves the extent and accuracy of diagnostics, meaning we can catch it earlier, improving the prognosis for local patients,” Ms. Dunkley said.

With advanced diagnostic technology accessible locally, the surgeons encourage everyone, regardless of age, to be aware of symptoms such as rectal bleeding and to include colonoscopies in their health care plan.

“This disease does not discriminate – I have treated someone for bowel cancer who was diagnosed when they were just seventeen – it is being found in younger and younger people.

“But it is important to remember that it is fully treatable and curable if found early. The real problem comes when we find it too late, and that happens because we don't talk about it and we don’t get checked out,” Ms. Dunkley said.

Dr. Tom Gleeson, who had a colonoscopy himself early this year, at Dr. Dunkley’s insistence, backed the call for more talking and more testing.

“I had minimal symptoms but was found to have a high-grade polyp that was very close to bowel cancer. So, I was very glad I went and had that procedure.”

The new Olympus scope further expands our region’s access to high quality healthcare and will contribute to earlier detection, treatment, and outcomes.

But only if we all take advantage of it.