Chennai: In cardiovascular therapy two fields which have assumed growing significance are Imaging, Physiology and Structural Interventions, said doctors at the Advanced Cardiovascular Therapeutics (ACT) symposium held on Monday at Madras Medical Mission (MMM) here.

Showcasing the new imaging process for angioplasty, doctors said it could diagnose more effectively and quickly. Use of contemporary technology and Imaging with Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS) and other modern techniques were the main focus of the symposium. Doctors viewed this as something that could go a long way in improving results of surgeries like angioplasty.

Meanwhile, after acquiring the latest state-of-the-art catheterisation laboratory with Philips co-registration of IVUS (the first installation in the whole of South Asia) doctors at MMM are stressing on the importance of use of newer technology.

Traditionally, an angiogram and echocardiogram were viewed separately and decisions were taken based on independent results. Now, both are co-registered and one can view the angiogram and intravascular ultra sound simultaneously on the same screen making it accurate without any assumptions, reducing the time of the procedure. “Intravascular Imaging enables doctors to assess and capture images from inside the coronary artery to understand the severity of the block, optimal treatment options and assess the outcomes of interventional procedures in coronary interventions.” said Mullasari Ajit S, course director, ACT 2015. The main objective of the structural interventional meeting as the second component of ACT 2015 is to address safe performance of these interventions. Structural interventions are evolving every year due to advancement in hardware and technology. “Correction of birth defects of heart and valvular lesions of the heart by non-surgical techniques will be discussed. The revolutionary advances that have taken place in the last decade have permitted closure of many birth defects of the heart without open heart surgery in a safe and effective manner without any painful scars. Use of the new technologies which are available not only produce safe results but also improve results of angioplasty, said Ezhilan J. MMM.