From IRMC
IRMC now offers a proven, non-invasive diagnostic option for people with suspected heart disease living in Western Pennsylvania. CT images combined with CT-derived fractional flow reserve (FFRCT) is a non-invasive clinical pathway that helps diagnose CAD. Trained analysts and AI algorithms create an anatomical model of a person’s heart that helps physicians visualize the blood flow and detect stenosis, or plaque that obstructs the blood flow.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for adults in the United States, and CAD is the most common type of heart disease, affecting nearly half the adult population. CAD develops when the arteries leading to the heart narrow or become blocked, which may lead to a reduction in blood flow to the heart. This can cause chest pain, heart attacks and death. Identifying exactly where and how an artery is blocked or clogged can help improve a person’s treatment plan — including whether an intervention is needed.
Despite CAD being the most common form of heart disease, studies have shown there is a need to improve how and when CAD is evaluated and diagnosed. Many of the non-invasive tests available today are less than 100% accurate. About 4 million diagnostic tests are conducted on patients with chest pain suspected of having CAD each year in the U.S. Patrick Hickle, MD, FACC, cardiologist with IRMC Physician Group, noted, “The HeartFlow FFRCT Analysis completely changes the paradigm, providing critical information for determining the severity of heart disease through a convenient, non-invasive platform.”
Recognized by professional guidelines; backed by data The HeartFlow FFRCT Analysis offers the highest diagnostic accuracy available from a non-invasive test.
From L to R: Ashley Croft, MSN, NP, Heartflow Rep; Diana Keyser, Lead CT Technologist; Tammy Smulik, Diagnostic Imaging RN; Patrick Hickle, MD, FACC, cardiologist; Lindsey Houser, Diagnostic Imaging RN; Sherry Orsargos, Diagnostic Imaging RN; Amanda Oaks, CT Technologist; and Theresa Kochara, CT Tecnhologist.
Additionally, in clinical trials, using the HeartFlow FFRCT Analysis helped identify which patients do and do not need invasive treatment.4 The use of the HeartFlow FFRCT Analysis also reduced the cost of care by 26% compared to usual care.
Professional guidelines, such as the ACC/AHA chest pain guidelines, recognize the combination of CCTA with selective FFRCT as a front-line pathway that helps diagnose CAD. This pathway was recently shown to be the superior diagnostic pathway in the PRECISE trial for suspected CAD compared to traditional stress testing.
