Tumour localisation with North Tees and Hartlepool Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
9th March 2020
Reducing patient anxiety with I-125 seeds at North Tees and Hartlepool Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
North Tees and Hartlepool Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the latest hospital trust in the UK to begin using the I-125 seeds for tumour localisation in breast cancer patients.
Improving workflow efficiency
The I-125 diagnostic seeds are designed to replace wire localisation to improve workflow, reduce delays and provide a better patient experience.
Matei Dordea, a Consultant Surgeon at the Trust, said: “We decided to move to the seeds instead of wires for various reasons, but most importantly to streamline localisation and improve workflow efficiency.”
Accurate excision
Like the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, the Trust also opted for the seeds to improve the excision process.
Matei added: “The seeds improve the accuracy of the excision, the precise signal allows an improved volumetric perception of the lesion in the breast. Additionally, moving from to the wires to the seeds avoids delays in theatre due to inevitable delays in wire insertion.”
The Royal Victoria Infirmary published a study called "Radioactive iodine-125 seed localisation of breast carcinoma in advance of the day of surgery reduces pre-operative anxiety levels.", in which the project aim was to assess whether the seed localisation had an effect on pre-op patient anxiety.
Streamlining localisation with the iodine seeds
Using the I-125 seeds instead of wired methods enables patients to be comfortable throughout the process, a driving factor for consultants when opting for the seeds alongside tumour localisation.
Matei commented: “So far, we have found the seeds easy to use. Insertion is simple, and patients find it comfortable as they now do not have to go to the breast department on the day of surgery to have a wire inserted. This means there is less patient anxiety on the day of surgery, which is always a good thing. We have been able to streamline localisation, improve our workflow efficiency and make patients more comfortable.”
Efficient seed transportation and disposal with Southern Scientific
Southern Scientific is the UK partner for Advantage™ I-125 diagnostic seeds and provides efficient transportation and disposal of the seeds. Matei said: “Our experience with Southern Scientific and Product Specialist Anna Smith has been good, and Anna has been responsive to our inquiries.”
Southern Scientific also manufactures and supplies the C-Trak Galaxy gamma probe system, which is the ideal instrument for the detection and localisation of the seeds.