by InTrieste
In a significant step forward for healthcare innovation, Cattinara Hospital inaugurated a state-of-the-art hybrid operating room on Wednesday, marking a new era in surgical precision and multidisciplinary care. The facility, located on the fourth floor of the hospital’s surgical tower, represents a nearly €2 million investment and is among the first of its kind in Italy.
The hybrid room integrates advanced technologies to facilitate minimally invasive and precision surgeries. Equipped with a robotized rotational angiograph capable of generating 3D images comparable to CT scans, the facility allows surgeons to perform complex procedures with unprecedented accuracy. The new setup is designed to improve patient outcomes, reduce recovery times, and minimize the need for contrast agents, offering particular benefits to patients with kidney conditions.
“This operating room underscores our commitment to multidisciplinarity, enhances working conditions for healthcare professionals, and reduces the impact of surgical interventions on patients,” said Riccardo Riccardi, the Regional Health Councillor, during the opening ceremony.
The hybrid room enables procedures such as clearing invasive plaques from carotid arteries or addressing obstructive conditions in the lower limbs of diabetic patients at risk of gangrene. Many surgeries can now be conducted with micro-incisions or even percutaneously, reducing patient recovery times and complications.
The unveiling of the facility is part of Friuli Venezia Giulia’s broader healthcare strategy, which has seen a 370% increase in regional health investments over the past six years, surpassing €1 billion. This marks a significant shift in the region’s approach, emphasizing the role of hub hospitals like Cattinara in a streamlined healthcare network.
“The activation of this hybrid room demonstrates a clear direction: hub hospitals fulfilling their central role within an updated hospital network,” Riccardi noted. He emphasized the importance of avoiding costly overlaps and ensuring network hospitals, or “spokes,” specialize in distinct areas to better serve patient needs.
The ceremony was attended by prominent figures, including Antonio Poggiana, General Director of ASUGI, and Professors Gianfranco Sinagra, Umberto Lucangelo, and Nicolò de Manzini, who emphasized the groundbreaking potential of the new facility.
Professor Sandro Lepidi highlighted the operational advantages of the hybrid room, particularly its capacity to produce detailed 3D imaging, which streamlines surgical procedures and enables micro-surgical precision.
The inauguration reflects broader challenges and opportunities in Italy’s healthcare system. While significant investments are being made, Riccardi acknowledged that longstanding inefficiencies and resistance to change remain obstacles. “There is no more time for defending small vested interests,” he said, calling for a unified approach to modernizing healthcare delivery.
The hybrid room’s launch at Cattinara Hospital positions Friuli Venezia Giulia as a leader in healthcare innovation, setting a benchmark for other regions in Italy and beyond.
