Heart flow mapping
February 3rd, 2010Detecting Heart’s Flow without Angiography
Ludhiana (India): Cardiologists depend on images of the heart to diagnose heart ailments. Now a “3D map” for early detection ofcoronary artery disease is possible with FDA (USA) approved Cardio-vascular Cartography (CCG). It is a non-invasive procedure using electrodes and a highly sensitive transducer while the patient is lying down. A high-speed computer analyses the recordings and gives the patient’s complete cardiac and circulatory status in just a few minutes. Such data was earlier not possible through non-invasive methods.
The record obtained includes details such as decreased blood flow to different parts of the heart, amount of blood pumped for every heartbeat, relative oxygen demand, chance of blood clotting in the heart’s blood vessels, chances of sudden cardiac death by arrhythmias and the state of the heart pump.
The 3D maps of the heart have an accuracy of over 80 percent in detecting heart disease. Angiography measures the quantity of blockages in the heart but does not inform about the status of blood flow or causes of reduced blood flow. Blockages in the arteries contribute to only 70 to 80 per cent of the reasons for the reduced blood flow. All patients having blockages in arteries do not necessarily have reduced blood flow or need bypass surgery as is commonly thought.
At Sibia Medical Centre Cardio-vascular Cartography is helping non-invasive and painless mapping of the heart to detect coronary heart disease early. Many of these patients can be treated without resorting to angioplasty or bypass surgery with Artery Clearance Therapy, Chelation Therapy and External Counter Pulsation (ECP / EECP). Dr. Sibia Director and consultant at the centre informed that decreased blood flow to the heart muscle and not blockages cause angina chest pain due hence blood flow to the heart muscle and not anatomical blocks are important.
CCG is a good screening test for everyone after 30 years age and for those at high risk of heart disease such as those having a high incidence of heart disease in family, diabetes, High blood pressure, overweight, increased cholesterol, smokers and those leading a sedentary and stressful lifestyle. CCG can also inform in which patients aspirin, yoga or meditation can be helpful.
