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Better Quality of Life through Better Technology
There are cardiac warning signs that may indicate the onset of serious heart problems, such as shortness of breath, a tight feeling in the chest, or sweating and nausea. However, some of those same warning signs may also be caused by other factors not related to the heart, such as indigestion, menopause, or even the flu.
When you're dealing with an organ like the heart, being able to differentiate between a potential blockage, and a simple case of heartburn can sometimes mean the difference between life and death.
Albemarle Health's Albemarle Hospital recently renovated its Cardiac Catheterization (Cath) Suite, installing state of the art imaging and interventional technology that enables physicians to better examine the heart and its arteries ... and an accurate examination can mean the difference between treating the problem with medication, or recognizing the need for immediate intervention.
The new Cardiac Cath Suite at Albemarle Health's Albemarle Hospital was completed in March, and began to be used to treat patients in April. The new Cardiac Cath Suite is equipped with an all-digital GE Innova 2100 cardiovascular diagnostic and interventional imaging system, which allows physicians to see blood vessels and the anatomy of the heart clearer than ever before.
"It provides faster, sharper images for the physician and the technicians," said Lindsey White, M.D., a cardiologist with Eastern Carolina Cardiovascular. "Albemarle Health also upgraded the computer-based technology used to monitor the patient. Together, these help us treat the patient more effectively and allow us to diagnose disease with more precision and speed."
A cardiac catheterization is a minimally invasive procedure in which a cardiologist inserts a tiny tube, called a catheter, into a blood vessel at the groin, and then moves it through the vessel toward the heart. Once there, dye is injected to contrast, and highlight, any blockages in the arteries that supply blood to the heart itself. If left untreated, these blockages may cause damage to the heart. A cardiac catheterization allows cardiologists to identify problems such as blocked arteries, and then determine a course of treatment, before a more serious event occurs, like a heart attack.
The new Cardiac Cath Suite also permits cardiologists to diagnose other heart-related conditions, including defective valves; and it provides our cardiologists with state of the art equipment for performing angiograms (using a balloon to open a blocked blood vessel).
"Our goal is to help our patients enjoy a better quality of life, and live longer," said White. "We're fortunate to have both this technology, and a talented team, to work with our patients in providing quality outcomes."
 Taking advantage of the upgraded digital images, along with Albemarle Health's Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS), local physicians may now send images of the heart, or blood vessels, to another physician or specialist for a consultation in another state - or around the world - within minutes of the beginning of the procedure. Physicians can even discuss what they're seeing in real time while a patient undergoes the cardiac cath procedure.
"This is fantastic for patients living in the Albemarle region," said White. "Now if your physician needs to look at your heart, or the blood vessels leading to and from it, you won't have to travel to Virginia, or several hours to the west to have these procedures done. You can do it right here, and be home with friends and family sooner."
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