DOCTORS AT the Pennsylvania-based Good Samaritian Hospital have successfully performed 3D imaging of complex cardiac anatomy.
Dr Edward Tadajweski and Dr Jeffrey L Williams used the GE Innova 3D imaging system to "reconstruct" two patients' hearts. The first patient underwent 3D angiography of the coronary sinus to guide a biventricular defibrillator implantation with a left ventricular pacemaker lead. The second patient had a 3D angiography of the left atrium and pulmonary veins to plan an atrial fibrillation arrhythmia ablation.
 "To perform complex interventions and stent placement, deploy [pacemaker or defibrillator] devices or perform atrial fibrillation ablations successfully, you must know exactly where heart anatomy and devices are in relation to one another. Working in a three-dimensional space is critical to better visualise the anatomy before these complex procedures," said Dr. Tadajweski. "Our state-of-the-art catheterisation laboratory allows us to rapidly acquire and reconstruct 3D cardiac anatomy images. It is designed to enhance, but not replace, traditional 2D fluoroscopic imaging."
As noted above, the performance of complex cardiac procedures is significantly facilitated by a detailed illustration of three-dimensional anatomy. GE's Innova provides healthcare professional with 3D views of internal body structures and interventional devices in a single image. The unit also assists physicians with diagnosis, surgical planning, interventional procedures as well as treatment follow-up. Finally, Innova helps minimises radiation exposure by offering working views without the use of fluoroscopy.
The World Health Organisation rates cardiovascular diseases as the number one cause of death. Indeed, an estimated 17.5 million people died from cardiovascular disease in 2005, representing 30 per cent of all global deaths. Of these casualties, 7.6 million were attributed to heart attacks and 5.7 million due to stroke. Approximately 80 per cent of these deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries. If current trends continue, an estimated 20 million people could die from cardiovascular disease - primarily from heart attacks and strokes - by 2015.
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