Chong Hua Hospital, Cebu’s leading medical center, once again leads the way to providing safe and excellent healthcare services by bringing in another cutting-edge technology that will forward faster and more accurate diagnosis of cardiac diseases among Cebuano patients.
Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a recent development in the imaging technology that is now widely used abroad by top-rank medical centers. Chong Hua Hospital introduces this safe and noninvasive diagnostic procedure that uses a huge magnet, radiofrequency waves, and a computer to produce highly detailed moving and still images of the heart. Doctors recommend cardiac MRI to further investigate heart abnormalities or unusual findings noted on other heart imaging examinations.
Chong Hua’s advanced cardiac imaging specialist Dr. Aileen Mae Lomarda, who trained in Singapore, cited the wide range of advantages of cardiac MRI. “We are proud to say that Cardiac MRI, a breakthrough in the imaging technology which used to be available only in Luzon and abroad, is finally here in Cebu. This allows us to take better pictures of the heart as well as the major blood vessels within the chest, leading to a sound and accurate diagnosis of heart diseases. Thus, cardiac MRI can guide us to proper management of an existing cardiac disease,” she said. This also allows us to monitor the progression of heart diseases and effect of treatment over time.
Common reasons to use Cardiac MRI include evaluating the effects of limited blood flow to the heart muscle and heart tissue scarring after a heart attack. It can also define heart muscle diseases and congenital heart diseases.
Another advanced noninvasive imaging for the heart in Chong Hua is the Cardiac CT scan which uses x-rays and a computer to produce high-quality images. It is useful in evaluation of the cardiac chambers and blood vessels specially those supplying the heart itself, the coronary arteries. Lomarda said cardiac CT plays a vital role in detecting the onset of atherosclerosis, a progressive arterial disease caused by fatty and calcium deposits in the arteries. Cardiac CT can show us if the coronary arteries are narrowed or blocked. It is most useful to know whether symptoms of chest pain is caused by a blockage in the coronary arteries, particularly in those at risk, such as those with high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, strong family history of cardiac events, and those who are smokers.
For the record, Chong Hua Hospital is the first medical center in Visayas and Mindanao regions to offer these technologies. “Patients no longer have to flee to Manila or elsewhere to avail of these treatments as we now have them available here. And we want everyone to be aware that they now have immediate access to such high quality healthcare services,” Lomarda said.
To know more about Chong Hua Hospital’s Cardiac MRI and CT, you may call +63(32) 255-8000. Chong Hua Hospital is at Don Mariano Cui Street, Fuente Osmeña, Cebu City.