The First Photon-Counting CT in Moravia Is Already Examining Patients
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WELLBEING
The device is located on the premises of AGEL
Ostrava-Vítkovice Hospital. Why did you decide
to place it in Ostrava?
We chose Ostrava so that the scanner would
be accessible to the widest possible number of patients.
It is the first device of its kind in Moravia. In the Czech
Republic, photon-counting CT is otherwise available
only at IKEM and the University Hospital in Plzeň.
What team looks after the photon-counting CT
in Ostrava?
The team falls under AGEL Třinec-Podlesí Hospital
and consists of three groups of experienced specialists.
These are doctors from the Interventional Radiology
and Cardiology Departments, as well as radiology
assistants who are specialised experts in operating this
device. We also have nurses, without whom patient
preparation would not be possible.
Where did you personally first encounter photon-
counting CT?
I first went to see this device at the University Hospital
in Plzeň and at the AGEL Košice-Šaca Cardiocentre,
where they have had it since this spring.
And how do you find working with it?
The beginnings weren’t easy, because we were
building the workplace from the ground up. But in
terms of operating the device and day-to-day medical
work, it is completely standard, just like with any other
modern CT.
Do you have an estimate of how many patients
might undergo photon-counting CT over the course
of a year?
The idea is that we will remain in “training” mode until
the end of 2025. From the new year, we want to switch
to full operation. I’m not yet able to tell you exactly
how many patients that will mean.
The device is currently used for patients with
cardiovascular conditions. Do you plan to expand
the use of photon-counting CT to other diseases
in the future?
This scanner is capable of performing many more
types of examinations. For now, everything will
depend on how heavily photon-counting CT is utilised
specifically for cardiovascular diagnostics. If there
is available capacity and interest from partner
departments to use the device for their patients, that
is something we can certainly discuss. We are open
to it.
Thank you for the interview.