In its commitment to utilize the latest technologies to provide better healthcare to patients, the Asian Hospital and Medical Center acquired the GE XT LightSpeed VCT XTe scanner for cardiac imaging. It is the latest in computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) that captures images of the heart and coronary arteries in as few as five heartbeats.

The machine also reduces the patient’s exposure to radiation by up to 70 percent. The scanner has the new SnapShot Pulse technology, which applies a process called prospective triggered gating, an automated response to a patient’s heart rate ensuring that the x-ray is only on for portions of a scan, thus significantly reducing patient’s x-ray exposure time.

"It provides a radiation dose of only around 1 to 2 milliservers," says Dr. Manuel Madayag, chairman of the Department of Radiology and director of Vascular and Interventional Radiology of the Asian Hospital.

Another advantage of the device is its capability to double the acquisition coverage of its 40mm detector, extending it to a full 80mm. This means, delivering twice the anatomical coverage in a single scan. It is equipped with a new scanning technique exclusive to the LightSpeed VCT XTe machine called Volume Shuttle, which can perform neuro perfusion and angiographic studies in one exam. It also ensures ample scan coverage of other body exams such as trauma, pediatric, pulmonary, and oncology.

"With this machine, we can cover the whole brain in one setting, so we can examine for stroke or for some bleeding. We can also do an angiography of the head, allowing us to see the blood vessels that circle the head and to examine if there’s an aneurysm or a malfunction that causes the bleeding or stroke. We can also extend its application to the abdomen, chest, lungs and the spine with a little more dose, which is about 5 milliservers, which is still way below compared to the conventional machine," Dr. Madayag said.