New 3D Cardiac Ultrasound Machine Will Benefit Thousands of Greater Lansing Residents
Mike and Faith West are feeling an immense amount of gratitude for visiting McLaren Greater Lansing on a much happier occasion as they watch the 3D cardiac ultrasound machine that they helped purchase be delivered to the hospital.
Just months ago, Faith was brought to McLaren Greater Lansing emergency room by her husband after experiencing shortness of breath. She was rushed into surgery to have to stents placed in her right carotid artery. After receiving life-saving care, she and her husband wanted to find a way to give back.
“Mike and I discussed doing something and prayed over it, but we needed to know what we could do to help,” said Faith. “During one of my appointments, I asked my cardiologist, Dr. McComb, what was on the wish list for McLaren. He showed us an older version of a cardiac ultrasound 2D machine. A newer version of the cardiac ultrasound showing 3D images of the heart along with a much higher resolution screen was on the cardiac wish list.”
The new 3D cardiac ultrasound machine creates a three-dimensional image of the heart, allowing doctors to see its structures and functions in greater detail than with a 2D image. This leads to more accurate diagnoses, especially when it comes to complex heart conditions and treatment plans. In some cases, 3D echocardiography can provide enough information to avoid the need for additional tests, such as a cardiac MRI.
“This new machine can perform ultrasounds on ten or more patients a day and help us pinpoint heart issues without having to perform additional procedures,” said Dr. David McComb, DO, cardiologist at McLaren Greater Lansing. “Thousands of patients at McLaren will benefit from this new 3D ultrasound machine.”
3D cardiac ultrasound machines are typically used for patients with complex heart conditions or those who need a more detailed evaluation of their heart. This could include patients who are going to undergo cardiac surgery or who have conditions such as the following:
“Knowing that our contribution will help so many people, it feels wonderful to give back to our community,” said Faith. “As Christians, Mike and I passionately believe that God calls us to do what we can to help others. In this case, we give God all the glory, because He has blessed us to be able to give back.”
The Faiths joined several other Foundation donors to provide this vital funding. If you would like to donate to support cardiac services, click here.
February is heart month, make it a priority to find out how to keep your heart healthy by learning more about McLaren Greater Lansing’s Heart and Vascular Institute. For more information, click here. To find a cardiologist accepting new patients, click here.