3D technology helps to treat heart patients
Waiting times also reduced
TECHNOLOGY to diagnose coronary heart disease is helping to reduce the amount of surgery.
HeartFlow Analysis has been in use at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust since 2018 and the technology, which helps doctors diagnose coronary heart disease quicker, has helped reduce waiting times and decrease the need for patients to have invasive surgical procedures.
The technology takes data from a CT scan and, with the help of analysts, creates a digital 3D model of the patient’s coronary arteries to help clinicians assess the impact of any blockages and decide on treatments.
Dr Peter Haworth, a consultant cardiologist at Queen Alexandra Hospital, said: ‘ Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust started using the technology in 2018 and since adding it to the diagnostic pathway, both the length of waiting times and the rate of invasive investigation has decreased significantly.
‘Diagnosing CHD used to be a protracted process, involving lots of tests. HeartFlow gives us anatomical and functional information in one
go, which means we can confidently tell patients whether they need further intervention, or if they can be treated with medication alone.
‘Confidence in the technology has grown and, now that we’re using CT with
HeartFlow FFRCT, the use of diagnostic angiography has significantly reduced.
‘We’ve gone from dedicating three sessions a week to these procedures to just one session a month.’
Dr Haworth added: ‘ We are constantly striving to improve t he time it takes to reach a diagnosis and complete treatment and heart flow technology has been instrumental in this for us.’
Lance Scott, chief commercial officer at HeartFlow,
added: ‘ NHS England leads the world with its approach to CHD diagnosis, one of the country’s biggest killers.
‘During the global pandemic, the CT-HeartFlow diagnostic pathway has meant patients spend less time in hospitals, and it’s a good example of how the NHS’s approach of adopting leading digital technologies is helping the public health service to become more efficient.
‘Patients can receive a diagnosis and treatment plan
after just one trip to the hospital and many can go home reassured they only need to be treated with medication.
‘We’re pleased to be working with Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust to streamline the patient diagnostic experience and reduce unnecessary procedures.’
We can confidently tell patients whether they need further intervention. Dr Peter Haworth