Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in London has installed a SOMATOM® Definition AS+ CT scanner from Siemens Healthcare. This adaptive imaging solution is the first to be installed into a National Health Service hospital and is currently being used for a wide range of procedures as well as supporting the cardiac and stroke related services.
The new scanner is situated in a back-to-back CT suite that also contains a Siemens SOMATOM Definition AS. This setup has increased staffing efficiency whilst giving a greater degree of scanning flexibility. Whilst the AS+ is used in stroke imaging and cardiology, the AS has been equipped with an interventional modality for radiofrequency ablation and oncology work. By having two adaptable CTs in place, patients can quickly be transferred from Accident and Emergency (A&E) for instant diagnostic scans on the AS+ whilst routine imaging needs are dealt with by the AS.
“By offering a dual service with both the AS and the AS+, we are able to be more responsive to the increasing demands of vascular and stroke related disease. With the AS available for general work on a day-to-day basis, the AS+ is ready for emergencies, meaning a stroke patient can be the next case on the table,” said Dr Roger Chinn, Director of Radiology at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
“We have a long-established reputation as one of the top providers of stroke services in London. We recently submitted a bid to be designated by Healthcare for London as a specialist ‘hyper acute’ stroke unit and we hope that our excellent reputation for stroke services – rated 4th in London and 6th in the UK by the most recent national audit – means that our bid is successful. The new equipment will enable us to enhance the reputation of our stroke services further still by keeping standards high and ensuring the best quality care for our patients.”
Chelsea and Westminster also offers a hyper acute stroke service for thrombolysis on the AS+. With its ‘Adaptive 4D Spiral’, this system goes beyond structural information to provide details on function. By providing whole organ coverage in 4D for stroke perfusion, clinicians can assess the complete picture instead of preselecting a narrow section to evaluate for perfusion defects.
The new installations have also permitted the Trust to implement a cardiac CT service for the first time, eliminating the need for transfers to Royal Brompton Hospital. Patients can now be assessed for cardiovascular risk onsite and the hospital is also looking to extend this with an acute chest pain service. The SOMATOM Definition AS+ is ideally suited cardiac imaging obtaining extremely fast coverage with 128 slices per rotation. It also features a unique ‘Adaptive Dose Shield’ that eliminates over-radiation on either side of the scan range for the minimum dose.
“Upgrading from one CT to two has given us far more flexibility in our work and has also meant we can offer a better service to our patients,” said Olivia Egan, CT Superintendent Radiographer at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. “The image quality is great and the systems are also user-friendly so easy to train staff on.”
“The SOMATOM Definition AS+ is a truly adaptable CT, making it ideal for Chelsea and Westminster as it can perform studies on a wide range of patients and provide a dedicated stroke imaging facility when it is needed,” said Gary Cook, Regional Sales Manager at Siemens Healthcare. “We hope the new systems will allow the Trust to continue its excellent work in stroke services.”
The Definition AS+ is a compact solution despite its large 78cm bore, patient table capacity of up to 230kg (36 stone). Without exclusions, the scanner is highly useful for traditionally difficult patients such as children, the obese or those suffering from claustrophobia.
About Siemens Healthcare
The Siemens Healthcare Sector is one of the world’s largest suppliers to the healthcare industry. The company is a renowned medical solutions provider with core competence and innovative strength in diagnostic and therapeutic technologies as well as in knowledge engineering, including information technology and system integration. With its laboratory diagnostics acquisitions, Siemens Healthcare is the first integrated healthcare company, bringing together imaging and lab diagnostics, therapy and healthcare information technology solutions, supplemented by consulting and support services. Siemens Healthcare delivers solutions across the entire continuum of care – from prevention and early detection, to diagnosis, therapy and care. Additionally, Siemens Healthcare is the global market leader in innovative hearing instruments. The company employs more than 49,000 people worldwide and operates in 130 countries. In the fiscal year 2008 (Sept. 30), Siemens Healthcare reported sales of €11.2 billion, orders of €11.8 billion, and Sector profit of €1.2 billion. Further information can be found by visiting http://www.siemens.co.uk/healthcare.
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