Wishlist has announced its major fundraising campaign to raise $600,000 for a revolutionary medical device that will transform stroke and brain aneurysm care in our region.

The new 3D imaging machine, known as a Biplane Unit, will be the first of its kind on the Sunshine Coast and will play a critical role in establishing a clot-retrieval service for one of the busiest stroke wards in Queensland.

Sunshine Coast Health Director of Neurology and Stroke Dr Antony Winkel highlights the critical need for this technology.

“In Australia, one stroke occurs every 19 minutes, and the SCHHS has a higher-than-average admission rate for stroke patients compared to the rest of Queensland,” Dr Winkel says.

“The most common type of stroke is ischemic, where a blood clot blocks a vessel to the brain, leading to irreversible damage if not treated promptly.

“For every minute a stroke goes untreated, 1.9 million neurons die and they are irreversibly lost.

“Clot-retrieval using biplane angiographic devices allows us to remove clots in real-time and restore blood flow to the brain.

“This technology drastically improves outcomes for stroke patients, reducing recovery time and long-term disability.”

Wishlist Fundraising and Partnerships Manager Lisa Wilson explains that the current single-plane unit at SCUH is scheduled for replacement by Queensland Health with a similar unit.

“However, with community donations plus additional funding from the health service, we have the opportunity to upgrade to a state-of-the-art 3D Biplane Unit to provide enhanced care for the 850 stroke patients our hospitals see every year,” Ms Wilson said.

"As the hospital foundation, we are working hard to raise the funds needed to bring this equipment to Sunshine Coast University Hospital because every minute counts, and every dollar counts.”

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This type of technology will give stroke survivors the best chance of recovery, Dr Winkel adds.

“Every 12-minute delay in clot retrieval adds an extra day of recovery in the hospital and countless years of recovery at home,” he says.

“There are many emergencies in medicine where time is of the essence, but none are more critical than stroke.”

To support Wishlist and help fund the Biplane Unit for the benefit of stroke patients, make a tax-deductible donation or phone 5202 1777.

FAST FACTS

• 1 in 4 people will suffer a stroke in their lifetime. 
• The Biplane Wishlist is fundraising for will allow the health service to establish a clot retrieval service locally – a first for the Sunshine Coast.
• Stroke specialists will be able to see 3D images of blood vessels in the brain in real-time and alleviate the huge burden of disability for stroke survivors.
• Regional Australians are 17 percent more likely to experience stroke than those in metro areas.
• There are more than 850 strokes in our region each year.
• Stroke kills more women than breast cancer and more men than prostate cancer.