MedStar Washington Hospital Center became first in Washington, D.C. and central Maryland to adopt the HeartFlow® Analysis, a first-of-its-kind non-invasive technology to help physicians diagnose coronary artery disease (CAD), the most common form of heart disease.

CAD is the leading cause of death for both men and women. It develops when cholesterol builds up in the arteries and blocks blood flow, causing chest pain or heart attacks.

Many of the non-invasive tests available today have low accuracy rates in detecting CAD and studies have shown there is a need to improve how the disease is evaluated and diagnosed. A recent study found more than half of patients with suspected CAD who underwent an invasive coronary angiogram (ICA) had no need for intervention, since no blood flow-limiting blockage was found during the procedure.

“Historically, cardiac CT has emerged as a powerful and accurate tool to detect coronary artery disease, but it has a limitation in that it cannot sometimes determine the how significant of blockage the cholesterol buildup is causing in the arteries,” said Gaby Weissman, MD, section chief of Clinical Cardiology with MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. “The HeartFlow Analysis changes this paradigm, allowing us to assess the coronary anatomy, blockages to the coronary arteries, and importantly, the physiological significance of those findings, all with one test. This provides essential information that can help us determine the right approach for a patient through a convenient, non-invasive platform.”

The HeartFlow Analysis takes the patient’s CT scans and creates a personalized 3D model of the patient’s coronary arteries. It then uses powerful computer algorithms to simulate blood flow and assess the extent and the impact of blockages on blood flow to the heart. This detailed information helps doctors determine the next steps in treatment for the patient.

The HeartFlow Analysis has been used for over 60,000 patients with suspected heart disease. In clinical trials, using the HeartFlow Analysis helped identify which patients do and do not need invasive treatment.