An interventional neuro-radiologist from Addenbrooke’s Hospital and his patient will feature in the final episode of a ground-breaking TV documentary.
Dr Yogish Joshi will be seen discussing the emergency procedure with stroke patient Paul on BBC Two’s Your Body Uncovered with Kate Garraway at 8pm on Wednesday (6 April).
This is not an ordinary consultation – since they will be meeting at an immersive imaging centre where, using real scans performed during Paul’s stroke, they will see floating before their eyes a reproduction of what happened during Paul’s stroke and life-saving procedure.
The series uses augmented reality – a technology that superimposes computer-generated images into real 3D view. It has featured other patients examining parts of their bodies that look so real, it is as if they could reach out and touch them.
Paul’s stroke came out of the blue and although he has recovered, it has had a huge impact on him and his family. Stroke is one of the UK’s leading causes of death, one person has a stroke every five minutes.
It happens when a vessel in the brain bursts, or is blocked by a clot, stopping blood flow to the brain. Paul was fortunate to get medical attention swiftly, but it has had an impact on him physically and mentally.
Next viewers meet Janet, who has recently turned 70 and was looking forward to some sailing adventures with her husband, when their world was turned upside down.
Janet noticed a strong pain in her back and blood in her stool. After a number of tests, a tumour was discovered in her bowel. Under the care of her colorectal surgeon, Mr Subash Vasudevan, Janet will be given an immersive consultation to help her understand the location and size of the cancer inside of her.
An episode last month featured Professor Jean Abraham, who co-leads Addenbrooke’s Personalised Breast Cancer Programme, and mother of three Annabelle, who was treated for breast cancer.
CUH has recently approved the business case for mechanical thrombectomy allowing the provision of this life changing procedure to even more stroke patients across the East Anglia region.