DGMC transforms to 3-D cardiac ultrasound imaging technology

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Austin Delacruz
  • 60th Medical Operations Squadron
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  In an effort to modernize Air Force medical equipment and optimize military medical services to better meet or exceed the needs of the 21st century, the Cardiovascular Diagnostic department at David Grant USAF Medical Center has acquired the iE33 cardiac ultrasound system from an international medical imaging company. This is another example of the Air Force Medical Services' strong commitment and application of the Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century concept.

By providing advanced diagnostic imaging capabilities with an intelligent system interface coupled with AFSO21, ultrasound examinations for patients and clinicians at DGMC and throughout the Air Force will be streamlined.

The iE33 system delivers revolutionary performance with the latest breakthroughs in diagnostic capability and "live" three-dimensional echo imaging. This advanced technology provides a real-time view of the heart that allows physicians and thoracic surgeons to view the beating heart as if they were holding it in their hands. The automated image optimization technologies and on-board 2-D and 3-D cardiac quantification and measurement functionality can facilitate quicker, less costly diagnosis and treatment of heart disease.

"Ultrasound is a rapid and safe way to diagnose routine and life-threatening cardiac conditions without the use of harmful radiation and intravenous contrast. The addition of live (or real-time) 3-D echo imaging now gives us the ability to accurately assess cardiac anatomy," explained Maj. [Dr.] Kyle Michaelis, 60th Medical Operations Squadron staff cardiologist. "We can quickly and accurately relay the patient's anatomy to the cardiac surgeon who relies on that information to repair the patient's condition with the least amount of surgery needed."

Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to produce moving images of the body's internal soft tissue structures. It provides a safe, fast and relatively painless means of diagnostic imaging on an outpatient basis. It can be used in the most critical and delicate conditions without major side effects. Thus, ultrasound has become one of the most popular diagnostic methods among both patients and physicians.

"The new cardiac ultrasound systems are a huge step forward for our Cardiovascular Diagnostic department here at DGMC," said Lt. Col. [Dr.] Chris Thompson, 60 MDOS chief cardiologist. "It will greatly enhance our ability to visualize cardiac structures and diagnose disease states. It will reduce the number of patients requiring invasive imaging as the images are so superb."

"On my own perspective as a cardiovascular sonographer, I experienced that the highly moveable control panel increases my flexibility to work around the patient and the system's sleek and ergonomically friendly profile makes it easy to move to wherever it is needed - in the outpatient clinic, critical care units or in the surgical suite," explained Senior Airman Gabriel Hannen, 60 MDOS senior cardiopulmonary laboratory technologist and cardiac sonographer.

"The lucid flat screen liquid crystal display monitor can be positioned so that it can be viewed from almost any direction with vivid views and images. This allows patients the ability to see images during scanning, as well," said Staff Sgt. David Dionne, 60 MDOS cardiopulmonary laboratory technologist. "It really lets me do my job faster, more easily and less physically taxing."