The first MRI machine in Romania designed specifically for investigating newborns has arrived at the Emergency Children’s Clinic „Marie S. Curie” in Bucharest. The equipment will be installed in the new wing of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
The machine is not yet functional. In the following period, it will be installed, calibrated, and tested, and the first investigations will be able to start after the completion of the necessary technical and medical procedures, as reported by News.ro.
The project was developed by the VASILIU - ACV Romania Association, with the support of Lidl Romania, which donated 1.3 million euros for the acquisition and installation of the equipment. The technology is currently only found in a few excellent medical centers in Europe, according to News.ro.
Safer investigations for critically ill children
An MRI can provide doctors with important information for diagnosing neurological, cardiac conditions, and malformations, as well as for choosing the appropriate treatment.
Unlike a regular machine, the neonatal MRI is adapted to the dimensions and needs of newborns. It is compact, maintains a controlled temperature, and produces less noise. Medical staff can stay with the child during the examination, and in certain situations, the investigation can be done without anesthesia.
The machine does not use ionizing radiation but a magnetic field and radio waves. This is especially important for premature or critically ill newborns who may need repeated investigations.
Another advantage is the placement of the MRI directly in the Intensive Care Unit. Children dependent on monitoring, respiratory support, or other equipment will no longer need to be transported to another area of the hospital.
Reducing movements within the medical unit limits risks for fragile patients and allows for faster investigations when doctors need results.
The machine was introduced into the building through the facade
Introducing the machine into the building required a special operation. Due to its size, a part of the already completed facade was dismantled, and the MRI was lifted and directly inserted on the first floor, in the space prepared for installation.
"Our children should not have fewer options just because they are born and treated in Romania. The first neonatal MRI means more than just medical equipment. It means access to high-precision diagnosis, closer to the child and the moment when doctors need it," said Delia Vasiliu, the president of the VASILIU Association.
The Head of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cătălin Cîrstoveanu, says that the machine represents "a significant advancement" in the care of critically ill children. "It is a project we have been thinking about for many years and which today becomes a reality. Now it is time to start working and show the change that this machine can bring to the care of our children," stated the doctor.