Memorial Advanced Cardiovascular Institute Adds Revolutionary Heart Imaging System
Advanced nuclear imaging technology gives physicians faster access to more detailed information to diagnose heart disease.
(South Bend, IN) (Nov., 2011) – Memorial Advanced Cardiovascular Institute has acquired an advanced nuclear cardiology imaging system that provides highly detailed pictures of the heart that enable doctors to assess the location, extent and severity of heart disease quickly and accurately.
The Discovery™ NM 530 nuclear imaging system from GE Healthcare uses revolutionary Alcyone technology to improve scanning speed and diagnostic accuracy. With conventional nuclear cardiac imaging, a patient must hold their arms above their head for two scans that take between 15-20 minutes each. With the Discovery NM 530c, the scanning time is reduced to 3-5 minutes for each scan. This reduction in time can be more comfortable for a patient, and possibly reduce artifacts in the scan caused by patient movement due to painful positioning or anxiety. A shorter, more comfortable scan has the opportunity to improve image quality, allowing clinicians to be more confident in their diagnosis.
Nuclear cardiology studies are an important diagnostic test for detecting the presence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), the single leading cause of death in the U.S. today. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), approximately 1 in 3 deaths are attributed to CVD and as the baby boomer generation ages, it is expected that these statistics will continue to rise. Yet, CVD is a disease of all ages. In 2005, the AHA reported that approximately 151,000 Americans under the age of 65 died from CVD.
“Our new system greatly improves the level of care that our physicians can provide for heart patients,” says Breno Pessanha, M.D., diagnostic cardiologist with Memorial Advanced Cardiovascular Institute. “We selected this system because of the quality of images, the speed of results, and the reduced radiation exposure. It allows us to diagnose heart disease quickly and with confidence – so we can get patients the appropriate treatment that much sooner.”
For many patients, nuclear cardiology studies can be a trying experience. However, this non-invasive test is a safe, painless and cost-effective method for gathering functional information of a patient’s heart to help physicians determine the right diagnosis and treatment. It can help postpone or reduce the need for surgical procedures or more expensive and invasive diagnostic tests.
“With this new technology, we continue to raise the level of excellence in healthcare in our area,” adds Dr. Pessanha. “We are proud to be on the leading edge of advancing the quality of heart care for local residents.”
About Memorial Advanced Cardiovascular Institute
Memorial Advanced Cardiovascular Institute (MACI) is dedicated to providing our commuity with
quality, compassionate, accessible and cost-effective health care. The MACI staff caters to each individual
patient with the utmost professionalism, offering the highest quality cardiovascular services available in the
region. Each cardiologist is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Diseases,
Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology and Interventional Cardiology. Additional subspecialty certifications
include Nuclear Cardiology and Echocardiography.Areas of specialty consultation include: cardiac risk assessment, chest pain evaluation, acute and
chronic coronary artery disease, assessment of cardiovascular risks for TIA/stroke or claudication,
management of dyslipidemia, atrial fibrillation management, palpitations, dizziness or syncope, congestive
heart failure, and assessment for pacemaker and defibrillator implantation.
Media who would like to speak with a physician about this new technology can attend the open
house taking place Wednesday, Nov. 9 from 3 – 7 p.m. at 610 N. Michigan Street, suite #400. Please call Maggie Scroope at 574-647-3234.
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Contact:
Maggie Scroope
(574) 647-3234
mscroope@memorialsb.org
Edgar Diaz
(574) 647-3273
ediaz2@memorialsb.org