MedStar Health is First System in Maryland to Use New AI-Powered Tool for Cardiac Catheterization

Technology allows cardiologists to preplan procedures using a 3D model of a patient’s heart.

CLINTON, Md. — 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 the patient's coronary arteries before a cardiac catheterization begins.

Interventional cardiologist Brian C. Case, MD and his cardiac catheterization team first used an 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. This model shows the location and type of plaque buildup, how much it narrows the artery, and its effect on blood flow, information typically 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 was not an emergency, the interventional cariology team was able to use the HeartFlow PCI Navigator platform to build the 3D model prior to any procedure.

"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. An estimated more than 15 million American adults have the condition, many without recognized symptoms. It causes roughly one heart attack every 40 seconds and accounts for one in nine deaths nationally.

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 inform decisions 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 to patients at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital, 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.