HOSPITAL ADDS TO ITS GROWING LIST OF “FIRSTS”

This summer, Dearborn County Hospital announced that it would be the first hospital in the nation to conduct a Screening Breast MRI Clinical Study.  Now the hospital is adding to that list.  Starting on Monday, November 2, Dearborn County Hospital will be the first hospital in the Greater Cincinnati area to offer Positron Emission Tomography/Computerized Axial Tomography (PET/CT) Myocardial Perfusion Imaging, a new form of cardiac stress test.  Also added to the list, DCH will be one of the first hospitals in the Greater Cincinnati area and the first hospital in Southeastern Indiana to offer a new treatment for Barrett’s Esophagus.  This minimally invasive procedure utilizes high energy radio waves, known as radiofrequency ablation, to destroy potentially cancerous tissue.

“We feel very fortunate to be able to offer these advanced technologies to our patients,” explained Peter V. Resnick, Dearborn County Hospital Executive Director.  “Community hospitals, regardless of where they are located, rarely have the opportunity to initiate lifesaving clinical trials or be the first to utilize state of the art technology.

 “Much of the credit for seeing that our hospital stays at the forefront of healthcare belongs to our DCH Medical Staff,” continued Mr. Resnick.  “Our physicians do an especially good job in keeping abreast of advances in their respective fields.  They want only the best for their patients, and in turn, encourage and work with the hospital to acquire equipment and initiate new services and programs.

“The hospital is also fortunate to have a very forward thinking Board of Trustees.  As residents of this area, our board members are committed to seeing that DCH excels…that the hospital is able to offer services that are exceptional for a community or suburban facility,” he added.

“While it’s great to be first, the real motivation behind these advances is always our patients,” Mr. Resnick acknowledged.  “For the woman whose previously undetected breast cancer is detected through a screening breast MRI or the person with Barrett’s Esophagus who receives treatment before their condition becomes cancerous, these individuals know first hand the value of advanced technology.  They realize that these advances may not only affect the quality of their life but also the length of their life.”

Starting this Monday, DCH will begin using PET/CT Myocardial Perfusion Imaging, also known as PET/CT Cardiac Imaging, for its cardiac stress tests.

“We are extremely pleased that we are the first hospital in the Greater Cincinnati area to offer this important cardiac examination,” noted Roger Howard, DCH Director of Clinical Services and Facilities.  “Only hospitals with a PET scanner are capable of performing this type of stress test.

“Cardiac stress tests that utilize PET/CT provide physicians with highly sensitive images that are far superior to those commonly available through the use of traditional nuclear medicine modalities.  PET/CT is currently the most advanced cardiac imaging technique for heart muscle,” he elaborated.

A PET/CT cardiac stress test does not require walking on a treadmill and can be performed in one visit of approximately 45 minutes.  Patients no longer need to come for testing on two consecutive days or wait for hours between scans.

PET/CT cardiac uses the element rubidium as its tracing agent.  Because rubidium has a very short half-life of 75 seconds, examinations of the heart at rest and those while the heart is being exerted can be performed back to back.  Also, the much shorter half-life of rubidium compared to traditional tracing agents means the patient is exposed to less radiation.

“While PET/CT cardiac provides an overall superior examination, it is extremely valuable for obese individuals and female patients with large breasts,” explained Mr. Howard.  “Rubidium is more easily detected through abundant body mass than traditional tracing agents, providing a more accurate, distortion free image.  In addition, the CT portion of PET/CT also helps the image compensate for differences in body mass among patients.”

PET/CT cardiac is also extremely valuable in diagnosing balanced three vessel disease where three of the four arteries of the heart each have a significant blockage of approximately the same amount.  Using a traditional cardiac nuclear medicine scan, these arteries may appear as normal even though three have significant blockages.

The procedure also provides superior images in patients with diabetes.   Persons with diabetes are more prone to have numerous, small auxiliary vessels compensating for and /or circumventing larger, partially obstructed arteries.

“Because of the accuracy and abundance of information derived from the PET/CT cardiac stress test, we anticipate having patients referred from throughout the Tri-State area.  In fact, PET/CT cardiac is so good, in some cases it may rule out the need for a follow-up cardiac catheterization. Also, because the trace element, rubidium, is generated on site, it is possible to schedule and perform an exam on the same day.  This is especially important for patients seeking cardiac clearance for an unexpected surgery or procedure,” Mr. Howard said.

“It’s also important to note that while a physician’s order is required for this test, the individual’s primary care physician or cardiologist does not need to be a member of the DCH Medical Staff,” he stated.

“Adding to the hospital’s array of new services this fall is treatment for a precancerous condition, known as Barrett’s Esophagus.  Again, Dearborn County Hospital will be one of the first hospitals in the Greater Cincinnati area to offer this innovative new treatment which utilizes the BARRX Medical HALO ablation system,” continued Mr. Howard.

Barrett’s Esophagus occurs when abnormal or precancerous cells form in the surface tissue or lining of the lower esophagus.  While Barrett’s Esophagus is usually not associated with any outward signs or symptoms, it is more present in individuals with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).  Left untreated, Barrett’s Esophagus has the potential to develop into cancer of the lower esophagus, also known as adenocarcinoma.  The five year survival rate for patients with this form of cancer is approximately 17%.

“Treating this form of esophageal cancer is difficult and may require removing all or a part of the esophagus.  In most of these cases, a portion of the stomach is then pulled into the chest cavity and surgically attached to the remnants of the esophagus. Even under the best circumstances, this procedure usually results in a great decrease in the patient’s quality of life. Even with treatment, the individual’s life expectancy may be limited,” stated Mr. Howard.  “That’s why it is so important to detect and treat Barrett’s Esophagus before it has the opportunity to develop into esophageal cancer.”

At DCH, Barrett’s Esophagus will be treated using a state of the art system that uses high energy radio waves, known as radiofrequency ablation, to destroy the abnormal tissue.  Performed as an endoscopic procedure with conscious sedation on an outpatient basis, patients will receive ablation therapy on two or more occasions, depending upon the scope and severity of their disease.  In the majority of cases, radiofrequency ablation will eradicate the disease and/or reduce the progression of the disease toward cancer.  Once the abnormal Barrett’s tissue is destroyed, the body will usually begin to grow new healthy tissue within three to four weeks.

“Because this treatment is so new, patients receiving this form of radiofrequency ablation for Barrett’s Esophagus will be entered into a national registry to track the long term effectiveness of this form of therapy,” elaborated Mr. Howard.

DCH Medical Staff Members who will perform this type of ablation therapy are Dr. Steven Fessler, Dr. Nav Grandhi and Dr. Manojkumar Singh, all Board Certified Gastroenterologists with Gastroenterology Consultants of Greater Cincinnati.

These two new groundbreaking services follow on the heels of the hospital’s announcement this summer that it is the first hospital in the nation to conduct a clinical trial to determine if screening breast MRI is superior to screening mammography for the earliest possible detection of breast cancer.

Throughout the course of the study, DCH will screen at least 1,000 asymptomatic women using the latest in breast MRI technology.  Women who have had a recent normal screening mammogram and who meet additional basic screening guidelines are encouraged to participate in this ongoing clinical trial.  A doctor’s order is not required to participate in the study and the participant’s personal physician is not required to be a member of the DCH Medical Staff. Screening participants will receive the MRI at no charge.

For additional information or to schedule either a PET/CT Cardiac Stress Test or participation in the Screening Breast MRI Clinical Trial, please call the hospital’s Imaging/Radiology Department at 812-537-8105 or 800-676-5572, ext. 8105.  Information on treatment for Barrett’s Esophagus may be obtained by calling the office of Gastroenterology Consultants at 812-537-5558.