London cardiac patients are among the first to use a new AI software, before plans to expand across the UK.
Since April, cardiologists at King’s College Hospital, London, have started to use a new form of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve their decision-making when treating coronary artery disease.
Developed by Abbott, Ultreon 3.0 Software is both faster and more accurate during angioplasties. Currently, this newest version of the software is only being used in a small number of major heart centres around the world.
Up to 500 patients at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust alone are expected to receive it every year. The team, led by consultant interventional cardiologist Nilesh Pareek, is also training others at sites nationwide.
Ultreon 3.0 Software uses AI techniques during angioplasties to provide detailed images directly from within a patient’s blood vessel. This lets cardiologists identify areas of plaque build-up likely to break and cause clots in real time. The software also allows them to assess more clearly how blood is flowing through vessels, which is particularly useful in coronary stent procedures.
Angioplasties widen the main blood vessels supplying the heart, which have become blocked or narrowed. Most involve inserting a stent into the artery, which remains permanently to allow blood to flow more freely.
“Over recent years, we have seen huge strides in the development of AI technology, helping transform cardiac care for patients and improve efficiency, and we’re extremely proud to be leading the way in this field… This latest step forward enables us to improve our decision-making and selection of diseased arteries for stenting procedures,” said Pareek.
Healthcare Today has reported on various technology improvements within cardiology, including one saving significant NHS time and money at another London Trust.
However, some in healthcare are still sceptical that AI can truly revolutionise things on the ground for them.
