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The CHUV Launches its Centre of Excellence in Interventional Medicine
March 15, 2024
Saint-Hyacinthe, March 12, 2024 - The Centre hospitalier universitaire vétérinaire (CHUV) of the
Université de Montréal's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine opened its brand-new Centre of
Excellence in Interventional Medicine (CEMI) on January 23rd.
This innovative center, located within the CHUV's Small Animal Hospital, hosts the very first
integrated veterinary interventional medicine suite in Canada; uniting advanced imaging and
cutting-edge equipment in a single location.
Interventional medicine allows treatment of a wide range of conditions in many species, such as
kidney and bladder stones, bladder polyps, tracheal collapse, liver malformations (lithotripsy,
laser ablation of malformations/polyps, tracheal stenting, liver shunt closure) using state-of-theart technologies. “Minimally invasive procedures allow us to enter the body through natural routes
and reach areas unattainable by standard surgery, such as the inside of the kidneys,” explained
Dr. Marilyn Dunn, professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.
Our brand-new interventional suite includes a fluoroscopy table with C-Arm for high-resolution
image acquisition, a screen system for monitoring procedures, an integrated anesthesia system
and a column for endoscopy equipment.
This equipment enables minimally invasive procedures to be performed, often without the need
for an incision. Procedures are done through the patient's natural orifices or through a very small
incision of a few millimetres. In this way, the animal is treated with little or no pain, and can be
discharged from hospital the same day. Interventional medicine and cardiology also offer unique
opportunities to treat where other medical or surgical options have failed.
The CEMI will offer a unique training experience for veterinary students, including future
specialists. "The University can now offer a unique training experience for future veterinary
surgeons. Here, we learn to use the tools of tomorrow, to carry out the interventions of tomorrow,"
emphasizes Daniel Jutras, Rector of the Université de Montréal.
“The CEMI will allow for a greater number of patients to be treated and provide a unique training
experience for veterinary students servicing a wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic options
involving the respiratory, cardiovascular and urinary systems,” Dunn said.
The CEMI also enables us to offer our patients advanced non-invasive cardiovascular procedures,
such as angiography of complex cardiac anomalies and advanced interventional surgery. The
equipment allows for more realistic, three-dimensional imaging of the heart to better assess
therapeutic approaches. The CHUV's neurology, surgery, zoological medicine and dentistry
services will also be able to use the CEMI.
This major project was made possible by a $1 million donation from Royal Canin Canada and a
$200,000 donation from Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Canada Inc.
