Advanced imaging tools transforming Heart Care – ETHealthworld.com

New Delhi: Turning a corner in interventional cardiology, advanced tools have opened new frontiers in heart care. Even as India is home to the highest burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) with changing lifestyles leading to a dramatic shift in the CVD patient profiles, doctors are now looking at newer tools to address the burgeoning burden.

Dr Nils P Johnson, Associate Professor of Cardiology, University of Texas, Houston, USA while emphasizing on the biggest challenges faced by cardiologists today, and the role played by the latest imaging techniques, said, Lifestyles are changing and as doctors, we come across complex Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) manifestations every day. Hence, latest modalities become particularly important in dealing with these complexities to ensure better patient outcomes. For instance, we have technologies like Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) that help us decide in advance if the artery needs a stent or not. Such tools are provided by some of the leading names in healthcare. In India, we must ensure our patients have access to these technologies.

In order to discuss and deliberate on the most advanced percutaneous cardio-vascular interventions, leading experts from the various fields of interventional cardiology came under one roof at the 11th India Live national conference in New Delhi. The conference which was held between Feb 28 and March 1 was focused on Interventional Cardiology: From Clinic to Cutting Edge. Today, heart failure is the leading cause of mortality amongst all heart diseases in India. With 23% patients succumbing within one year of their diagnosis, experts underline the need to look at technological interventions from around the globe to address this burden.

Dr. Krishna Sudhir, Divisional Vice President Medical Affairs, Abbott said It is encouraging to see how technology is transforming the way we treat patients. We have tools like Optical Coherence Technology (OCT) that help us assess the extent, nature and exact location of the blockage. Apart from helping us choose the right stent, OCT also helps in the post-implantation process to ensure that the stent is placed properly and expanded well. We need such advanced tools for better patient outcomes."

Concluding with a final statement, Dr Nils P Johnson highlighted how latest tools are helping in achieving precision in medical fraternity and how they have become an important part of clinical practice. He said, I treat a lot of complex heart disease patients using advanced technologies like Fractional Flow Reserve FFR and OCT. These latest tools are becoming important in achieving precision PCI and are now an inherent part of my routine clinical practice. FFR is a guiding tool used world over for assessing whether the artery needs to be stented or not.

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Advanced imaging tools transforming Heart Care - ETHealthworld.com