We all know that the world is evolving on all fronts of technology. Whether it’s mechanical, industrial, construction, or medical, we are witnessing advancements each day. Over the years, we have seen notable evolution in the field of cardiology and the technologies related to cardiology. It is important to keep in line with these technological advancements. Whenever you are looking for the best cardiologist, keep in mind that they should be familiar with the latest technologies. Following are the technologies that are the future of Cardiology in Pakistan.
Expanding catheter-based interventions for all areas of the body
This will increase volumes in interventional radiology and cardiac catheterization labs while decreasing open surgical procedures. Many of the future developments in the coming years will be for heart failure and structural heart therapies, while coronary interventions have reached a plateau. Peripheral artery disease (PAD), critical limb ischemia (CLI), transcatheter valve repair and replacement technologies for all four heart valve positions, and interventional heart failure devices will be new expansion areas in the cardiac/vascular lab.
Analytics software, combined with Artificial Intelligence for Cardiology
Analytics software in tandem with artificial intelligence will find quick adoption in healthcare systems to look at massive data. This will open up new avenues for healthcare management, such as identifying bottlenecks and inefficiencies within departments or processes. Population health efforts will be able to use big data to identify high-risk patients for screening programs and proactive outreach for checkup appointments. This can also be used to determine the likelihood of a patient’s readmission or infection, which can help focus scarce hospital resources. Big data also opens up new avenues for retrospective clinical research. This could involve a review of the best practices for treating patient subgroups with a unique combination of disorders. It can also be used to highlight long-term results or late issues for individuals who have been taken specific medications or have had specific implantable devices implanted.
Digital Stethoscope for Cardiologists
The tool doctors use to listen to the heart and lungs, which was first invented more than 200 years ago, has undergone some high-tech upgrades in recent years. Specialized microphones and sensors in the latest digital stethoscopes filter, buffer, and magnify sounds from the heart. The sounds are then transformed into a digital signal and wirelessly transmitted to a smartphone, where the patterns can be viewed and examined further. Some models are so sensitive that they can detect turbulent blood flow in the heart’s arteries, which could help doctors detect coronary artery disease. Studies are currently being conducted to assess that possible use.
Robotic Heart Sleeves
When it comes to assisting the beating of a failing heart, a customizable robotic heart sleeve has shown advantages over existing heart assist devices such as VADs. The soft robot, created by researchers at Harvard University and Boston Children’s Hospital, never comes into contact with blood, reducing the risk of blood clotting. In pig hearts with acute heart failure, the robotic sleeve has shown that it can assist heart function. Before the robotic sleeve can be tested on humans, more study is needed.
TAVR Treatment for Patients with Aortic Stenosis
The transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a minimally invasive technique that replaces a constricted aortic valve that prevents blood from flowing freely through the aorta, the body’s main artery. Aortic valve stenosis is the medical term for this ailment. It can lead to cardiac failure if left untreated. Until recently, TAVR was reserved for patients who were too frail to have open heart surgery to replace damaged valves. It is currently available to almost all patients with severe aortic stenosis, regardless of risk.
The physician inserts a catheter into the femoral artery through the groin or chest and navigates through arteries to the heart using modern imaging to replace the aortic valve with a new artificial valve during the surgery. Scripps structural heart specialists were among the first in the US to evaluate TAVR in clinical studies. Scripps was the only health system in San Diego County to take part in later clinical trials that validated TAVR for low-risk patients.
MitraClip Treatment for Patients with a Leaky Mitral Valve
Mitral regurgitation, often known as a leaky mitral heart valve, is the most prevalent type of heart valve disease treated with the MitraClip operation. This method is intended to treat symptomatic individuals who are unable to undergo open-heart surgery. The MitraClip is a tiny clip that attaches to the mitral valve and allows it to seal more completely, reducing regurgitation.
If left untreated, a leaking mitral heart valve can be fatal. The mitral valve has two flaps, referred to as mitral leaflets, that open and seal tightly. Blood might flow backward when the leaflets become torn and no longer close entirely, making the heart work harder than usual. Larger leaks can cause shortness of breath, tiredness, and heart failure over time. Patients are also at a higher risk of having an abnormal heartbeat, having a stroke, or having a heart attack.
Wearable Technologies for Cardiology
Wearable technologies are also growing more popular, as they allow users to track their heart rate and other vital signs while on the road. Many physicians have adopted these devices in recent years, and they are now considered a legitimate approach for individuals to monitor their cardiovascular system. With the inclusion of these wearable gadgets, such as the Fitbit or the Apple Watch, many well-known technology businesses have joined the cardiology field. Additional products, such as the iRhythm, take a different approach to the wearable technology market, focusing solely on cardiac monitoring via a patch worn on the user’s chest rather than other capabilities like the Apple Watch and Fitbit do. The market for these gadgets has the potential to expand in the coming years, as consumers increasingly value their compact size and sleek appearance.
