3D Virtual Heart Tool Predicts Risk Of Arrythmia-Induced Sudden Cardiac Death

A research team from John Hopkins University has designed a non-invasive 3D virtual heart assessment tool in order to determine whether a patient is at the highest risk of a potentially fatal arrhythmia. The tool was said to result to more accurate assessments than the widely used blood pumping measurements.

According to Heart.org, arrhythmia pertains to changes in the normal sequence of electrical impulses, causing the heart to beat too fast, too slow or erratically. The heart cannot pump blood effectively when it can't beat properly.

A personalized virtual #heart predicts the risk of #suddencardiacdeath https://t.co/Sw0xWvHwoj @johnshopkins

— Phys.org (@physorg_com) May 10, 2016

3D Virtual Heart Assessment Tool Based on MRI

The researchers used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) records of patients who survived a heart attack with damaged cardiac tissue, according to Medical Daily. Damaged cardiac issue is said to be a risk factor in fatal arrhythmias.

The researchers also studied the records of 41 patients who had an ejection fraction of less than 35 percent. Ejection fraction is a measurement of how much blood is pumped out of a person's heart.

An alternative to the scores based on the pre-implant MRI scans of the patients and personalized, digital replicas of their organs was made as well. Computer models were enhanced through the simulation of the cardiac cell's functions.

Not all replicas developed arrhythmia. The researchers observed the replicas who had arrhythmias, particularly the movement of electrical impulses and the impact of scar tissue on the risk of arrhythmia.

3D Virtual Heart Asessment Tool To Prevent Deaths

"Our virtual heart test significantly outperformed several existing clinical metrics in predicting future arrhythmic events," said Natalia Trayanova via Science Daily. Trayanova is John Hopkins University's inaugural Murray B. Sachs Professor of Biomedical Engineering.

Trayanova added that the virtual heart-risk assessment tool can help avoid sudden cardiac deaths. It will also allow patients who are not at risk for arrhythmia to be exempt from unnecessary implantation of a defibrillator. Heart.org said that in defibrillation, an electronic device gives an electric shock to the heart to bring back a heart's normal contraction rhythms.

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