With emergency departments across Taiwan experiencing overcrowding, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital has introduced the third spectral CT scanner in Taiwan and the first in northern Taiwan. Dr. Tzu-Jen Hung, Vice Superintendent of the hospital, stated that the machine has been placed adjacent to the emergency room, allowing for immediate diagnosis and thrombectomy procedures for acute stroke patients, ultimately saving lives. The new installation is expected to cut treatment time by 10 minutes.
Originally, the hospital had considered installing the device on Basement Level 2, but Wu Tung Ching, Chairman of Shin Kong Hospital, instructed that the equipment be placed in the emergency room to optimize life-saving efficiency. The installation is expected to be completed by the end of February, and once operational, patients can be prepared for surgery within just five minutes, significantly reducing wait times. Additionally, AI-powered calculations will determine the optimal contrast agent dosage, ensuring the highest image quality for diagnosis.
Ming-Tsung Tseng, Chief Technology Officer of Shin Kong Hospital, highlighted the high accuracy of spectral CT in tumor differentiation, while also requiring lower doses of contrast agents. This is particularly beneficial for liver tumor detection and is expected to enhance both emergency and clinical diagnostics. The advanced imaging capabilities allow for faster diagnoses and treatments, leading to shorter hospital stays. Furthermore, the technology helps protect kidney function, improves the detection of cholesterol gallstones, and enables early identification of occult pulmonary embolisms.
Chen-yu Hsiao, Attending Physician in the Department of Radiology, noted that compared to conventional CT scanners, spectral CT offers higher resolution, exposing patients to lower radiation doses with reduced harm. The shortened examination process, combined with AI-assisted analysis, enables rapid detection of strokes and vascular blockages, allowing physicians to quickly obtain critical data for timely and effective treatment.
Resource: 腦中風取栓縮短10分鐘 新光醫院急診增設「光譜CT」
