WARREN, Mich., March 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Heart surgeons at St. John Macomb Hospital are the first in the state to utilize an innovative technology that helps to ensure the success of coronary bypass surgery before the patient leaves the operating room.
The technology, called SPY Intra-operative Imaging System, is the first and only fluorescent imaging system approved by the FDA. It provides immediate images to verify that blood is flowing properly through the newly created vessels, avoiding the need for repeat surgeries and reducing complications.
The SPY System uses a fluorescent imaging agent that is injected into the blood stream and emits light when stimulated by an infrared laser. The technique does not heat up heart tissue and does not pose any risk to the patient. The injection agent illuminates blood flowing through the veins and arteries in real time and the camera captures live images of the heart. These images can be captured on a computer screen saved for medical reference.
"SPY makes it possible for surgeons to simply and effectively confirm proper placement of their bypass grafts and to visually assess the quality and effectiveness of those grafts while the patient is still in the operating room," said Sanjay Batra, SJMH cardiovascular surgeon.
"The SPY System enables us to make any corrections if necessary before the patient leaves the operating room, providing patients with the assurance that they have received the highest quality bypass possible," said James Martin, chief of cardiovascular surgery at SJMH.
In a matter of minutes during surgery, the SPY System can provide information that is similar to what is obtained during an X-ray angiogram, the standard technique for visualizing blocked coronary arteries. Unlike the SPY System, the angiogram uses X-rays and a contrast dye that is injected into the heart. This procedure is typically performed after surgery, when a surgeon suspects a complication.
Each year, approximately 400,000 patients undergo coronary bypass surgery, making it the most common open-heart surgery in the country.
St. John Macomb Hospital is a member of St. John Health and the St. John Health Heart Care Network. St. John Macomb's Cardiovascular Services includes one of the area's first 64 slice CT scanners, open-heart surgery and angioplasty, 24-hour emergency assessment, 83 monitored cardiac care beds, electrophysiology laboratory, echocardiography, stress testing, a diagnostic cardiac catheterization laboratory and a pacemaker clinic.
St. John HealthCONTACT: Brian Taylor, Manager, Media Relations of St. John Health,+1-248-849-2236, Cell: +1-248-756-3264, Pager: +1-248-367-7954,Brian.taylor@stjohn.org
Web site: http://www.stjohn.org/
