NUR-SULTAN – Almaty-based Scientific Research Institute of Cardiology and Internal Diseases made two major advances in heart disease diagnostics and management in July. Its scholars improved the standards for the management of patients with chronic heart failure using modern telecommunication systems, and introduced a new method to diagnose heart ischemia (a restriction in blood supply to tissues, causing a shortage of oxygen necessary to keep tissue alive) in just two-three minutes and with an almost 100 percent accuracy.
Photo credit: 24.kz.
“The new heart ischemia diagnostic method is a deeper physiological study. Previously, we used non-invasive diagnostic methods, that is, we thoroughly interviewed the patient, analysed his heart rate data detected by a cardiogram attached to the patient running on a treadmill, and only then we managed to detect ischemia. We must know for sure, because these coronary vessel constrictions of 50-70 percent, sometimes even 80 percent, should not always be treated with interventional methods, because there are so many possibilities of treatment using drug therapy,” said Alexey Kolesnikov, head of the department at the institute, as reported by 24.kz.
The new diagnostic technology, introduced at the institute, is known around the world as the “gold standard.” Unlike other diagnostic methods, this technology is safer and can reduce the number of postoperative complications. An ultra-thin conductor with a sensor at the end is inserted into the coronary vessels. In places of constrictions, the device measures the amount of incoming blood to the heart. Doctors can treat the disease with medication, if the parameters are sufficient. In case of a blood shortage, an expansion stent is placed in the vessels.
The Scientific Research Institute of Cardiology and Internal Diseases have also improved the standards for the management of patients with chronic heart failure using modern telecommunication systems. With the development of information and telecommunication technologies, which led to the birth of a fundamentally new medical service, Kazakh doctors are now able to use a remote patient monitoring system.
Head of the Department of Arrhythmology Roin Rekvava connected a patient with an implanted Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy (CRT) Device to the Home Monitoring remote monitoring system. This is a home monitoring system, a small device that is similar in size and shape to a smartphone, which sends clinical and technical data daily from the implanted device to the doctor’s personal account. In case of unforeseen clinical complications, Home Monitoring will notify the doctor of the necessity to contact the patient to adjust the drug therapy or to configure the device settings.
According to many studies, Home Monitoring provides early diagnosis of arrhythmias (quivering or irregular heartbeat), is an effective tool for the early prevention of strokes caused by atrial fibrillation. It also reduces the frequency of device replacement operations caused by battery depletion.
