Improving The Lives Of Cardiologists By Leveraging Tech-advancements In CT

Cardiovascular diseases have surfaced as a major global health issue, fueled by lifestyle changes and recently by the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Post-Covid, it was expected that the general populace would wake up to the increased vulnerability to heart illnesses, especially in India, often referred to as the cardiac disease capital. This increased demand for effective and efficient diagnostic tools has highlighted the need for advancements alongside the diagnostics angiograms conducted directly from Cath labs, which are considered a benchmark in the visualisation of heart imaging.

With the prevalence of heart diseases increasing day by day, cardiologists now seek more advanced, non-invasive, and quick alternatives. Here comes the gap buster, that is CT Angiography, endowed with emerging AI advancements.

Coronary computed tomography Angiography (coronary CTA) has become the preferred noninvasive imaging exam to help clinicians detect and rule out coronary artery disease (CAD).

Changing Attitudes Towards Cardiac CT

Cardiologists have traditionally been reluctant to rely on the CT scan for the imaging of the heart and would instead take a diagnostic angiogram directly from their Cath labs. This approach is mainly driven by a few core reasons: the desire to personally assess the patient's condition at hand and concern for the possible inaccuracy of the CT scans.

The uncertainty is not just in developing countries like India but also in more developed countries where the deployment of technology is still evolving. However, technological advancements with the inclusion of AI in CT are starting to shift the balance and the dynamics of the healthcare industry are significantly changing.

One of the most important reasons for this shift is the increasing burden on Cath labs, particularly post-Covid. The pandemic has brought attention to the urgent need for holistic cardiac screening. Heart conditions are on the rise, and medical professionals are now appreciating the merits of using CT as a screening modality. They recognize CT as a tool for filtering out cases and conserving Cath lab utilisation only for interventions rather than diagnostic angiographies.

Coronary CTA correlates well with invasive anatomical assessment. CTA has very high sensitivity and high negative predictive value. Recently updated guidelines affirmed the value of coronary CTA as a first-line test for patients with stable or atypical chest pain or other symptoms of angina, and demand for CTA exams is expected to increase. The traditional method requires anaesthesia, radiation exposure, and other important hospital resources that are crucial for serious cases. CT angiography uses a contrast dye for the scan without the invasive procedure. While the Cath lab processes might take several hours, including preparation, testing, and recovery, CT scans leveraging AI are quick and improve workflow, patient outcomes, and resource management. 

The Role of AI in Enhancing CT Imaging

Advances in AI technology are swiftly dissolving the scepticism that has been the main stumbling block for the widespread adaptation of CT. In cardiac imaging where the question of accuracy is present, AI-enhanced CT systems have emerged as game-changers.

A cardiac scan is not an easy process as one is trying to capture an organ as dynamic as the heart which is in constant motion. One of the advantages of CT scanning is that it is a fast method for creating a 3D image of the heart and coronary arteries. CT scanners with 128-slice systems, which were already considered the gold standard, have now become as efficient as 256-slice systems, thanks to advancements in AI.

However, the hardware in CT scanners is very close to reaching the physical limits required to obtain the additional temporal resolution needed for improved cardiac test quality. But CT software improvements and artificial intelligence are enabling the next step in image quality and efficiency in cardiac assessments.

Improving Workflow and Revenue Generation

Besides the benefits to patient care, embracing advanced CT technology for has added benefits straight to workflow of cardiologists and radiologists. By integrating AI-enhanced CT scans into their workflow they can save their valuable time and resources. Cath labs hence become free to focus on critical procedures that warrant full attention, enabling cardiologists to do more angioplasties. This in turn helps healthcare institutions to generate more revenue.

Moreover, since the cases that only need consultation and management with medication can be taken care of outside of the Cath lab, the functions of hospitals can then be more systematised, and better usage of the medical staff and facilities can be achieved.

The Future of Cardiology with AI-Powered CT

As AI progresses in enhancing the technology of CT imaging, cardiologists are less hesitant about their dependence on such a modality. Accuracy, minimal invasiveness, and efficiency levels brought in by AI make cardiac CT an essential tool for cardiology in the future. In the latest CT systems, AI is deeply embedded into complete workflow patient positioning, scan planning, image reconstruction and post-processing enabling precision in dose, speed and image quality. Quantifying atherosclerosis with CTA is becoming more robust and reproducible with defined measures. CTA has also become safer with drastic dose reduction and significant contrast reduction using AI recon.AI-enabled motion compensation significantly improves temporal resolution and enables better visualisation of the coronary arteries even at higher heart rates minimising the use of beta blockers. By embracing these advances, cardiologists can not only improve the outcomes of their patients but also free up work in their Cath lab and create more value for their patients and practice. At a time when cardiac incidents are on the rise, AI-powered CT is not merely an option—it is becoming a necessity.

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