A NEW computer test could revolutionise the way heart disease is diagnosed and managed, according to a leading Southampton doctor.
Prof Nick Curzen, consultant cardiologist at Southampton General Hospital, is backing new technology that can create a detailed 3D model of a patient’s coronary arteries from a standard CT scan image.
It then uses complex calculations to work out the extent of blockages in the arteries and examine whether they are blocking blood flow – all without the need for invasive procedures.
The fractional flow reserve computed tomography (FFRCT) was created by US company HeartFlow and could become the ‘default method’ for assessing patients with chest pains.
Prof Curzen said: “It is already well established that measuring FFR from within the body when taking angiograms can improve management decisions for patients with chest pain, but we are now moving into exciting new territory where we can discover important and accurate details without intervention.
“This study demonstrates that the non-invasive FFRCT analysis from a standard coronary CT scan has the potential to become the default method for the initial assessment of many patients with cardiac-sounding chest pain by assessing both the coronary anatomy and physiology simultaneously.
“This has important implications for our clinical practice and could re-define conventional care pathways.”
Prof Nick Curzen
Coronary heart disease – the build up of fatty substances that block bloody supply to the heart - is the most common cause of chest pains in the UK and kills 73,000 people per year.
The FFR gives a precise reading of whether or not blood flow is significantly restricted, which is vital in deciding if a patient can be treated with medical therapy or if they require a stent or surgery.
The current procedure for diagnosing the condition involves an angiogram, in which thin plastic tubes are passed from an artery into the heart so a special dye can be injected and viewed via X-ray.
John Stevens, chairman and CEO of HeartFlow, added: “This analysis has an unmatched level of accuracy in determining, non-invasively, whether a lesion is restricting blood flow to the heart and this study demonstrates the profound impact the technology can have in directing patient care.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here