NHS introduces 3D heart scans to diagnose patients in 20 minutes

[Northerner]

Patients with life-threatening coronary heart disease will be treated five times faster thanks to 3D scans being introduced on the NHS that allow for a diagnosis in just 20 minutes.

The revolutionary technology can turn a regular CT scan of the heart into a 3D image, allowing doctors to diagnose them rapidly, NHS England said.

It added that about 100,000 people will be eligible to use the HeartFlow technology over the next three years.

Patients – who would previously have had to undergo an invasive and time-consuming angiogram in hospital – will now be seen, diagnosed and treated around five times faster.

After diagnosis, treatments range from surgery or medication to having a stent fitted. Patients with less serious conditions can be given healthy lifestyle tips or cholesterol-lowering medication.

NHS introduces 3D heart scans to diagnose patients in 20 minutes

Revolutionary HeartFlow technology turns CT scan into 3D image, allowing treatment five times faster

www.theguardian.com

🙂

 

[mikeydt1]

i had to undergo the angio procedure and it was not a pleasant experience and put me in to shock. if this takes off think of the lives it could save, good to see technology moving on bit by bit.

 

[Spozkins]

I wonder if it till be easily accessible across the country? Sounds like a good step forward for many people though.

 

[mikeyB]

I’m surprised they are using CT scans. These use X-ray technology which is relatively low resolution, however you tweak it, and not that good with soft tissue. I would be interested to see any images they produce if they aren’t using contrast medium.

I speak from experience- a CT scan of my pancreas detected some calcification (solid tissue) and the possibility of cancer, an MRI found the same calcification, but also evidence of chronic pancreatitis with no evidence of cancer. Which is why I’m here to tell the tale. It’s the difference between a standard TV and a 4K OLED TV.