LightSpeed VCT XT saves resources
The Cardiocentro Ticino in Lugano, Switzerland ' a tertiary care centre specialising in treating patients with coronary artery disease ' carries out around 300 major operations and 2,000 invasive coronary angiographies annually. Six months ago, the hospital acquired state-of-the art equipment, including GE's LightSpeed VCT XT.
‘Acquisition of the GE VCT was done in conjunction with the purchase of a major package, containing updated echocardiographic equipment and solutions for the electrophysiological and cardiac catheterisation laboratories,’ said Dr Francesco Faletra, Director of the centre’s cardiac imaging unit. ‘Since the installation, our team has performed 2,100 examinations using the new system. The LightSpeed VCT is an ideal solution for screening patients with atypical chest pain and low to intermediate risk of coronary artery disease because this technique has a high negative predictive value. We now examine patients by carrying out a cardiac VCT scan instead of an invasive coronary angiography, which saves valuable resources: the invasive catheterisation laboratories can now be used primarily for angioplasty.’
Due to technologies like SnapShot Pulse, the dose for a CT scan with LightSpeed VCT can be reduced by up to 70%, ranging from 1.5 to 4mSV. ‘That enables us to study even asymptomatic patients, provided they show a high-risk profile, which is a real benefit. Moreover we can repeat an examination after six months or a year to track coronary plaque after pharmacological treatments, or a change in lifestyle,’ he pointed out.
Next to the quite user friendly software the VCT enables heart scans in 10 seconds, thus optimising the workflow in the radiology department. ‘With the new system we achieved great results - we expect even more in the future,’ Dr Faletra predicted.
30.10.2007
