New tech helps speed up heart disease diagnosis in Hampshire
3D imaging of the heart helps experts identify disease and cuts the need for invasive testing
Last updated 4th Jun 2021
Hospitals across north Hampshire have started using new technology which helps to speed up heart disease diagnosis.
The non-invasive diagnostic tool, called HeartFlow Analysis, turns a CT scan of the heart into a 3D image that helps clinicians identify if there is disease and whether treatment or surgery is required. It reduces the need for unnecessary invasive testing and improves patient quality of life.
The scan takes just 20 minutes to complete, with results returning on average in around six hours for the rendered 3D image.
Hampshire Hospitals, which runs Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, Royal Hampshire County Hospital, in Winchester, and Andover War Memorial Hospital, worked closely with Wessex Academic Health Science Network (AHSN) to bring the innovation to the trust.
Dr Peter Chapman, consultant radiologist at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said:
“Coronary heart disease is a common type of heart disease and using HeartFlow will help us prevent unnecessary invasive procedures and allow us to put patients on the best treatment pathway for their individual needs much quicker. We are so grateful for the opportunity provided by Wessex AHSN to improve cardiac services at the trust.”
In addition to the service already being available at Basingstoke and Winchester, Hampshire Hospitals is also now running a cardiac CT service at its hospital in Andover and plans to build and improve the service further to make the best care accessible to the people of Andover.