Because of you, CHSF have been able to fund new state-of-the-art software for the Congenital Echo department at the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit.
The team got it up and running in July, and it’s already making a big difference in the clinic!
This software provides the tools to check how well the heart is doing and is particularly useful if the team suspect there’s something not quite right with the heart muscle, for patients who have a family history of heart problems, or if a patient has some heart issues where the cause is unknown.
Dr Grazia Delle Donne, Consultant Paediatric Cardiologist said:
“We wish to express our sincere gratitude to Children’s Heart Surgery for providing funding for software for one of our congenital echocardiography (ECHO) machines. The software was installed in July and placed immediately into clinical practice.
“The software provides us with the tools for additional assessment of cardiac function. This is useful in patients with a family history, or suspect abnormalities of the heart muscle where there is a possibility of inheriting an abnormality of the heart muscle.
“The images to the left are of 2D of the right heart and the images to the right are strain curves. This allows us to identify normal and abnormal patterns and recognize abnormalities of the heart muscle.” – Sam, Sonographer
This includes dilated, hypertrophic or arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, or in patients with idiopathic heart disease.
“This [software] is useful in patients with a family history, or suspect abnormalities of the heart muscle.”
“Some patients with conditions such as dilated cardiomyopathy may recover, and the subtle changes detected using the software may help to predict those who are more likely to recover.”
This brilliant new software, funded thanks to CHSF supporters, does a lot of things automatically. This means it makes the sonographer’s jobs easier and means that the team can be more consistent when checking up on patients over time.
Sam Bainbridge, Congenital Sonographer said:
“Many thanks again for supporting this project, we are already using the software in clinical practice!”
In the photo left to right:
Beth Lunn (Children’s Cardiac Nurse Specialist), Dr Grazia Delle Donne (Consultant Paediatric Cardiologist), Sam Bainbridge and Hannah Shaw (Congenital Sonographers).
Every donation – big or small – makes a huge difference.
Your generosity can really mean the world to babies, children and adults with congenital heart disease across our region. Help us to continue funding more projects like this by making a donation.
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