5 days ago
Kingston, Ont. hospital the first in Canada to use AI heart imaging technology
The Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) will be the first hospital in Canada to use artificial intelligence to diagnose coronary artery disease on CT scans, thanks to a $100,000 donation.
The hospital in Kingston, Ont. is launching Heartflow, a 'revolutionary AI-based technology' that will allow radiologists and cardiologists to measure how the blood flows through a patient's coronary arteries, using a CT scan.
'This AI tool is a game changer for the way we triage patients,' Dr. Omar Islam, head of diagnostic radiology at Kingston Health Sciences Centre, said in a statement.
'Before, we had to send everyone with a possible significant blockage to the cardiovascular catheterization (cath) lab just to see if the flow was reduced. Now, we can do that non-invasively with Heartflow. If the flow is normal, the patient avoids an invasive procedure entirely. It helps our capacity in the cath lab and saves the health-care system money. From a patient perspective, it spares them a procedure they may not have needed.'
Traditionally, many patients had to undergo cardiac catheterization, which is an invasive test that involves threading a wire into the arteries to measure blockages.
The Kingston Health Sciences Centre says Heartflow can reduce unnecessary catheterizations by up to 30 per cent, as doctors can make the measurement directly from a CT scan.
'For patients living with chest pain and suspected coronary artery disease, Heartflow provides a safer, faster and more accurate diagnosis of low blood flow,' the hospital said in a media release.
'It also helps medical teams determine how severe a blockage in a patient's artery may be—without having to undergo an invasive procedure.
Heartflow will be fully operational at the hospital this month.
Officials credit a $100,000 donation from local donor Stephen Sorensen for allowing the hospital to launch the technology.
'Thanks to Stephen Sorensen's visionary support, KHSC is able to invest in state-of-the-art technology that is improving care for our patients,' says KHSC CEO Dr. David Pichora.
'His belief in the power of innovation, particularly in the field of medical imaging, is creating a healthier future for our patients—and we are grateful for his remarkable leadership and generosity.'
Sorensen added, 'I'm always looking for innovative tools that can have an immediate impact on patients' lives and Heartflow fits the bill.'
The Kingston Health Sciences Centre is the first hospital in Canada to use the AI heart imaging technology.
