MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center is the first hospital in Maryland to use a new artificial intelligence-powered technology that gives cardiologists a detailed, 3D roadmap of a patient’s coronary arteries before a cardiac catheterization begins.
Interventional cardiologist Dr. Brian C. Case and his cardiac catheterization team first used the advanced imaging system, called HeartFlow PCI Navigator, in early September to evaluate a patient’s coronary arteries and guide the procedure in real time.
The platform converts images from a standard cardiac CT angiogram into a color-coded, 3D model of a patient’s coronary arteries. The model shows the location and type of plaque buildup, how much it narrows the artery, and its effect on blood flow — information that’s typically only gathered in real time once a procedure is already underway.
The patient who underwent the first procedure came to MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital with chest pain. A CT angiogram found coronary artery disease that required further, more invasive evaluation. Because the case wasn’t an emergency, Case’s interventional cardiology team was able to use HeartFlow PCI Navigator to build the 3D model before any procedure began.
“From a patient perspective, I think the biggest benefit is that we can approach a procedure with more information and a clearer plan,” Case said. “Rather than simply reacting to what we see once the procedure begins, we can use advanced imaging and computational technology to better understand the patient’s unique coronary anatomy and prepare the procedure accordingly.”
Coronary artery disease is the most common form of heart disease in the U.S. and is often undiagnosed. More than 15 million American adults are estimated to have the condition, many without recognized symptoms, according to the CDC. It causes roughly one heart attack every 40 seconds nationally and accounts for close to one in nine deaths.
The disease develops as plaque narrows or blocks arteries, restricting blood flow to the heart and raising the risk of chest pain, heart attack and death. Measuring how much plaque is present, its type, and the degree of blockage can help doctors decide between medication and a procedure.
“Ultimately, this is about using technology to make care more informed, more personalized, and potentially more efficient for our patients,” Case said. “It represents an exciting step toward bringing more precision and planning to coronary interventions.”
The addition of HeartFlow PCI Navigator expands the advanced cardiac care technology available at MedStar Southern Maryland, which was named a Healthgrades Top 100 hospital for coronary care in 2024 and previously added the Coroventis CoroFlow Cardiovascular System. It’s part of a broader effort across MedStar Health to bring innovative, patient-centered heart care closer to home for patients in Prince George’s County and Southern Maryland.
Visit MedStarHealth.org/Heart to learn more.
