Cardiovascular Cartography, a new advanced non-invasive technique for early detection of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) and assessment of the functional status of heart is proving very useful. It uses a technology that was primarily meant for seismology, aerospace exploration, warfare and non-liner complex systems.

The information obtained from this technique is not provided by any of the existing cardiac diagnostic tools and some of them were never possible, according to Dr VJ Sadhana, director and medical consultant, Centre for Detection and Prevention of Heart Disease, Hyderabad.

The Centre has commissioned a 3-Dimensional Cardiovascular Cartography (3DCCG) laboratory with Haemoseis 256 system recently. This is designed and developed by the Centre for Advanced Research and Development (CARD), the R & D wing of Scalene Cybernetics Limited, Bangalore.

The Cartography has been approved by US FDA, ISO 13485, EN 46001, UL, CSA. It is being widely used in over 34 centres spread over 11 countries.

Cartography has certain key advantages. It is non-invasive (no injection, no catherisation, no anaesthesia), no hospitalization, no radiation, no risk, no pain, no after effects, allows early detection of CHD (detects even very small blocks), provides a complete report on the functioning and current status of the heart, offers valuable data to the treating physician for monitoring medication.

Cartography also images a much valuable topography of the myocardium showing the areas of the heart muscle in danger, which is a boon to cardiologists in a heart attack setting. It can aid in understanding if the clot that caused the heart attack has been busted and dissolved by the treatment. Since 3DCCG can assess the oxygen deficiency, oxygen consumption and supply demand parity, this should be possible.

Assessment of Cardiotoxicity in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and dose adjustment looks promising through 3DCCG.

All high risk persons including people with high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure, those who smoke regularly or take tobacco, those who consume alcohol regularly, overweight persons, individuals having diabetes, persons with family history of heart disease, people with stressful lifestyle and minimal physical activity or sedentary life style should undergo the tests.