Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola has become the first hospital in the city to offer a groundbreaking cardiac imaging technology designed to transform the way doctors evaluate heart disease according to a news release.

The new cardiac positron emission tomography (PET) scanner provides a highly precise method for detecting heart attack risks without the need for invasive procedures.

This advanced PET technology enables heart specialists to pinpoint which blood vessels may be compromised and assess if surgical intervention is necessary, delivering an unprecedented level of detail in cardiovascular diagnostics.

"This technology transforms our treatment process and can replace many traditional ways we have approached stress testing and stenting," said Dr. Sergey Kachur, a heart imaging specialist at Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola. "Cardiac PET scans provide all the benefits of a diagnostic catheterization procedure with virtually none of the potential complications."

In a country where cardiovascular disease claims nearly 700,000 lives annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the need for accurate, less invasive diagnostic tools is paramount. The three-dimensional heart images produced by the PET scanner give doctors enhanced insight into heart health, guiding safer and more targeted treatments.

"If we find a problem and need to conduct a minimally invasive surgery, this technology provides us with all the information we need to proceed as safely as possible," Dr. Kachur said. "The entire diagnostic process can be improved to a degree that was not previously possible, and can lead to safer and more effective treatments."

Recognized as a leader in cardiovascular care, Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola has been named one of the nation's top 50 hospitals for cardiovascular services by PINC AI and Fortune magazine seven times. The hospital's Regional Heart and Vascular Institute stands as the largest cardiovascular health center in Northwest Florida, offering comprehensive services to meet the community's growing heart care needs.

For more information on Ascension Sacred Heart's Regional Heart and Vascular Institute, call (850) 416-2328.