[neverdem]

Michael Houghton for The New York Times
At the Cleveland Clinic, Thomas Pursch, 75, is prepared for a CT scan. Such machines are poised to change the diagnosis of heart disease.

[TXnMA]

"To me, it's a nightmare waiting to happen," said Dr. Nissen, who is calling for strict guidelines overseeing use of the new machines

What are the chances that the good Dr. Nissen has been making a high-dollar living in the cath lab -- doing angiograms...?

[countrydummy]

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rmlew]

Should I go to the hospital with pain in my chest, I damn well would want a Multidetector CT scan used to look at my heart.

[therut]

As a Family Practice doctor this sounds wounderful. Much cheaper. Less dangerous. No need to ship patient to another hospital(saves on time and money of ambulance or helo),saves on unnecessary hospitilizations---hence money. Helps to not overtreat patients as unstable angina with some risky medications. Would cut down on the worry of missing a real heart problem us just reflux etc. Sounds wonderful. Yes it would cut down on the income for cardiologists but I don't care. Most are over worked and they will still make big money doing stent placements and other things.

[MississippiMan]

Omigoodness. Although I could handle a test in that CT machine, just seeing it reminds me of an MRI machine and doubles my heart rate. I've been claustrophobic my whole life, but never anything debilitating; just don't try to hold me down or close me in if you don't wanna get hurt. :-)

That was before I was ordered to have an MRI a couple of years ago. I started into that tunnel and FREAKED. Tried five times. Went to another hospital where they had what they called an "open" MRI, but that sucker wasn't open enough. Freaked out there too, and after that, I couldn't sleep right for a month. Everytime I'd lie down I could see and feel that cage coming down over my face and locking down, and the panic would hit all over again.

I've since located the company that makes a truly open MRI, but there's not one anywhere close. Anyone else this severely claustrophobic? Since the MRI experience, I even have trouble flying.

MM

[Nov3]

Father's side regular cholesterol heart attacks in the mid fifties. Mother's side high cholesterol no heart attacks. Me LDL 170 HDL ~50 triglycerides very low. (Goes up appreciably when not on Atkins) Scared of the wonder drug statins.

Had my heart scan. ZERO! not only zero overall but zero on ALL subtests! I have a crushed disc in my thorax that causes intermittent chest pain and it bugged me to death when I thought my arteries were clogged solid because my GP was trying to foist the statin of the day on me. What a RELIEF!

Go get one for the peace of mind.

[Polyxene]

THIS is why the United States has the best medical care in the world! Bet you won't be finding any of these machines in Canada!

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

Star-Trek-Science ping...