Two new cardiology ultrasound emission heads for Corfu Hospital
Corfu Hospital
22 Aug 2019
/ 08:25
CORFU. Enough to cover the specialised examination needs of an island.
The hospital has acquired two new ultrasound emission heads (paediatric and transoesophageal) for the cardiac ultrasound scanner that has been operating since 2017. The 2 new heads will cover the everyday needs for specialised examinations on an island like Corfu.
The paediatric head, which will aid the cardiac ultrasound examinations of children, has already been installed and is in operation in the new cardiac ultrasound unit. It will be especially useful in cases where critical decisions have to be made (e.g. newborn babies).
The transoesophageal head comprises a transducer fitted at the end of a tube similar to a gastroscope. The method of insertion is exactly the same as with gastroscopy and the head is inserted carefully in the patient's oesophagus. In this way it comes into close contact with the heart, which is directly in front of the oesophagus, and the heart can be examined in great detail.
It is suitable for:
- checking for clots in the heart in cases of stroke.
- checking for infection in the heart valves (endocarditis).
- aneurysms or separation in the aorta.
- assessing deficiencies in the heart valves - mainly the atrioventricular and especially the mitral.
- assessing the functionality of the prosthetic valve (when there can't be a detailed assessment with a transthoracic ultrasound for technical reasons).
This particular head requires specialist training in its use by the cardiologist and for this reason it is expected to start being operational in October when a hospital cardiologist will be certified in its use.
The procedure via the Ionian Islands ESPA Programme for the acquisition of the two ultrasound emission heads, worth 60,000 Euros, began at the end of 2017.
The paediatric head, which will aid the cardiac ultrasound examinations of children, has already been installed and is in operation in the new cardiac ultrasound unit. It will be especially useful in cases where critical decisions have to be made (e.g. newborn babies).
The transoesophageal head comprises a transducer fitted at the end of a tube similar to a gastroscope. The method of insertion is exactly the same as with gastroscopy and the head is inserted carefully in the patient's oesophagus. In this way it comes into close contact with the heart, which is directly in front of the oesophagus, and the heart can be examined in great detail.
It is suitable for:
- checking for clots in the heart in cases of stroke.
- checking for infection in the heart valves (endocarditis).
- aneurysms or separation in the aorta.
- assessing deficiencies in the heart valves - mainly the atrioventricular and especially the mitral.
- assessing the functionality of the prosthetic valve (when there can't be a detailed assessment with a transthoracic ultrasound for technical reasons).
This particular head requires specialist training in its use by the cardiologist and for this reason it is expected to start being operational in October when a hospital cardiologist will be certified in its use.
The procedure via the Ionian Islands ESPA Programme for the acquisition of the two ultrasound emission heads, worth 60,000 Euros, began at the end of 2017.
