GRAND FORKS — Altru Health System is changing the way doctors diagnose and treat heart disease in North Dakota, a disease that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says killed nearly 700,000 Americans last year.
The Cardiac Computed Tomography Fractional Flow Reserve (CT-FFR) at Altru is designed to work quickly. But it doesn’t sacrifice precision for speed.
“The accuracy is almost close to like 95%,” said Dr. Puvanalingam Ayyadurai, a cardiologist at Altru.
The machine takes scans of the heart that help cardiologists quickly identify blockages and determine whether or not a stent is necessary.
The entire process of using it from beginning to end only takes about 10 minutes to complete a scan.
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Best of all? It’s non-invasive. No catheters are required.
“Our goal is to get the patients only for the invasive procedure only when they have a blockage or only when it’s really needed,” Ayyadurai said.
It’s the only one of its kind in North Dakota. Now instead of having to travel to the Twin Cities or the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, people who want high-tech cardiovascular care can get it at Altru.
It’s a win-win for everyone. Registered CT technicians said their efficiency allows them to get people in and out with answers fast.
“We can squeeze a lot in, in one day,” said Registered CT Tech Lauryn Sivertsen.
They hear from patients all the time who are shocked at how simple the process was for them.
“They usually will oftentimes ask like, ‘Oh, I’m free to leave after this?” said Sivertsen. “I’m like, ‘Yeah, you get to go about your day as normal.’”
A registered nurse with Altru who’s used the machine as a patient before backs up those claims.
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“You’re not totally claustrophobic,”said Altru Registered Nurse Mary Krogstad. “You’re in and out of the machine. Very quick, very seamless.”
The scanner is helping keep health care at home, and helping save lives.
“Even the local data in North Dakota clearly points that (heart disease) is ahead of cancer being the most common cause of death,” Ayyadurai said.
Mike McGurran has been a reporter and anchor at WDAY-TV since 2021.