Colchester: A new heart scanner could save lives (From Essex County Standard)

Colchester: A new heart scanner could save lives

9:00am Wednesday 4th November 2009

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The County Standard needs your help.

This week, we have launched a campaign to raise £40,000 for a children's heart scanner for Colchester General Hospital.

This vital piece of equipment will be used by the special care baby unit for the early diagnosis of heart conditions.

It really is a matter of life or death, as the equipment can highlight potentially fatal problems that might not be spotted otherwise.

With the hospital having raised £20,000 of its £60,000 target, there is still a long way to go.

But with your help, this hi-tech tool could save the lives of many Colchester youngsters in the future.

Dr Venkat Karuppaswamy knows just how important these heart scanners are.

Recently, one little boy in his care at Colchester's special care baby unit (SCBU) was found to have his arteries the wrong way round - an extremely serious condition.

Dr Karuppaswamy said: “We wouldn't have known about it without the scanner.

“He could have died.”

The doctor explained that he and fellow consultant Angela Tillet can currently borrow the adult scanner from the hospital's cardio-respiratory department.

But this is not ideal, as SCBU must work around the other staff, which is not always practical or convenient.

With their own scanner, the consultants would be free to scan their babies in their care whenever necessary.

“About 80 to 90 per cent of the pre-term babies will need a scan,” said Dr Karuppaswamy.

“That's about ten to 15 a month.

“We also scan about 40 children from outpatients each month, so the machine would be well used.”

Dr Karuppaswamy said the scanner itself was the size of a laptop computer.

Jelly is put on the baby's chest in a similar way to a pregnant woman's ultrasound scan.

His or her heart is then magnified on the screen, so that any abnormalities can be quickly recognised.

“It allows us to see how the heart is working,” said Dr Karuppaswamy.

“We can make a quick diagnosis and give the child the treatment they need straight away.”

A heart scanner was used on little Samia Mohamed when she was born at just 28 weeks earlier this month.

Her mother Minara, who lives in Lufkin Road, was on a trip in Scotland when she unexpectedly went into premature labour.

The scanner at the Glasgow hospital showed that she was suffering from patent ductus arteriosus.

This causes an abnormal blood flow between two of the heart's major arteries.

Dr Karuppaswamy, who is now treating Samia in Colchester, said her condition may have been picked up without the scanner.

But he said the little girl was treated more quickly than she would have been without it.

“She is on medication now, which has helped,” he said.

“But she will need surgery when she gets bigger – she is only 1kg at the moment.”

Parents like Mrs Mohamed, whose little ones have been treated at SCBU, have got the scanner appeal off to a flying start, helping collect nearly £20,000 in the eight months since the drive was launched.

Staff have also got involved, holding events like a charity ball and a fun run to help increase the total.

With £40,000 left to go, locals are being urged to donate.

If you would like to contribute, send a cheque made payable to the Children's Heart Scanner Appeal to children's services fundraising co-ordinator Graham Appleton at the children's ward, Colchester General Hospital, Turner Road, CO4 5JL.

Write Account 4LO4 on the back of the cheque.

For more information, contact Mr Appleton on 07929 751712 or graham.appleton@ntlworld.com

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