Life-saving HALO machine arrives at LGH

Head of the LGH Gastroenterology Department Dr Scott Fanning.

September, 2022

A HALO Radiofrequency Ablation System is now a permanent fixture of the LGH Gastroenterology Department, thanks to the generosity of community members who supported the Foundation’s most recent Christmas Appeal.

It means Tasmanian patients with dysplastic Barrett’s Oesophagus can be treated locally, without the need to travel interstate.

With a price tag of more than $50,000, the RFA system is used to treat people with high-grade Barrett’s Oesophagus – a pre-cancerous condition of the oesophagus.

An endoscopic procedure, a scope is passed through the mouth and into the oesophagus while a patient is under general anaesthetic. Here, the HALO delivers a controlled level of energy to remove a thin layer of diseased tissue.

A few seconds of energy removes tissue to a depth of about one millimetre. As LGH Director of Gastroenterology Dr Scott Fanning explained, the ability to provide a controlled amount of heat to diseased tissue means this therapy has a much lower rate of complications than other forms of ablation therapy.

“The procedure itself is quite short and may take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes to perform,” he said.

“After treatment, 98% of people are free of Barrett’s Oesophagus after two or three RFA treatments.

“Studies show that when the Barrett’s tissue is removed, it is typically replaced by normal, healthy tissue within three to four weeks.”

With support staff now undergoing training, Dr Fanning said the first procedure using the HALO was expected to take place at the LGH in the coming weeks – with a number of patients already booked in.

“On behalf of the Department of Gastroenterology at the Launceston General Hospital, I would like to say thank you to everyone who supported this appeal,” he said.

“Your generous funding has helped us acquire this machine which we would otherwise not have, and it will make an excellent positive benefit to patients in the local community.”