New Equipment at MLMH Gives '4-D' Picture of the Heart

 A new test available at Mary Lanning Memorial HealthCare gives physicians a 4-D, full volume view of a patient’s heart, with the ability to take specialized measurements of the heart’s function.

The advanced cardiovascular ultrasound system from GE Healthcare, called the Vivid E9 Echocardiography Scanner, became available at MLMH in early February. The scanner is considered 4-D because physicians can view the three-dimensional picture of the beating heart, with time adding a fourth dimension.

The new equipment offers physicians the ability to detect and diagnose subtle heart conditions. The increased capabilities of the Vivid E9 can help physicians better diagnose and treat their cardiovascular patients, enhancing diagnostic confidence for the entire care team. The Vivid E9 uses advanced echocardiography techniques, allowing physicians to capture images of the heart from multiple viewing angles simultaneously. Acquiring multiple images from the same heartbeat without moving the probe results in accurate cardiovascular information in fewer steps.

“The advanced features of the Vivid E9 can, at times, shorten exams and increass the diagnostic information obtained from each patient,” said Sheri Trindle, Director of the MLMH Cardiopulmonary Services Department. “In some cases, we can gather a tremendous amount of data in one, single heartbeat. ”

The addition of the Vivid E9 allows MLMH to perform a number of enhanced clinical tests.

• 4-D Imaging – A “beating heart” display of three-dimensional images of the heart provides advanced
  information on heart structure with added insight into how well the heart is doing its job.
• 4-D measurement tools - The ability to take measurements on the full volume, three-dimensional
  pictures of the heart enhance the cardiologist’s ability to understand how well the heart muscle is pumping
  blood to the body.
• Measuring Heart Synchronization – Measurements can be made to determine whether the heart is
  pumping with the correct rhythm. This information is important in understanding heart function and is
  useful when patients are being evaluated for pacemaker surgery.
• Detecting heart wall abnormalities — Proper motion of the heart wall is an important indicator of
  heart function and the Vivid E9 features special tools for the cardiologist to “grade” a patient’s heart
  wall motion, providing guidance in treatment and follow up with the patient.

“This technology benefits the physicians, our patients and their families,” Trindle said. “We are very
pleased to bring this technology to Hastings.”