The Cardiology team at Via Christi St. Francis has successfully completed its first procedure using Abbott’s new Ultreon™ 3.0 coronary imaging platform, making it the first hospital in Kansas and in the entire western United States to adopt the new technology.
The next-generation platform provides real-time, intelligent insights to help cardiologists perform minimally invasive procedures called percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) to open clogged coronary arteries. These blockages are typically caused by coronary artery disease (CAD), the most common heart disease and the single most frequent cause of death in the U.S.
The platform uses Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), an advanced imaging tool that employs light waves to capture detailed, cross-sectional views of the coronary artery. The platform’s software processes this information to provide a clear understanding of the precise measurements, shape and location of a coronary blockage, enabling optimal stent placement to restore blood flow.
"By automating complex measurements during a PCI, the new platform helps our team make highly informed decisions in real time, tailored exactly to the anatomy of each patient's heart,” said Bassem Chehab, MD, Via Christi’s Medical Director of Structural Cardiology, Clinical Cardiology and Research. “It represents a pivotal step forward in how we treat and ultimately care for our patients.”
The adoption of this new technology means access to highly advanced cardiac care right here in Wichita, minimizing the need to travel far for complex heart interventions. With its commitment to innovative, patient-centered care, Via Christi is the leading choice in south-central Kansas for inpatient cardiology care based on patient volumes.
