“You are wasting your time.”
This was the feedback that I received ten years ago after submitting a research grant.
As Albert Einstein once said, “the important thing is to not stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” I knew I was onto something important.
Here is what you need to know:
It is estimated that up to 50 per cent of patients who undergo coronary angiograms do not show significant blockages. During a scan we mostly see the larger vessels.
However, 75 per cent of the heart’s blood supply moves through a network of very small arteries (arterioles) and capillaries that are too small to be visible on most tests.
Imagine that these little vessels are more like unpaved back roads versus the major highway system of the arteries and veins. These rural roads don’t show up on your GPS.
Traditional procedures, like angiograms, detect blockages or narrowing in the major coronary arteries. These tiny veins, the miniscule “roads,” weren’t just hard to drive on, they were barely showing up on a scan.
We now have the technology and a process to look at the near hidden parts of the heart.
We can now reveal those uncharted mysteries. I am so glad I trusted the significance of the “rural
backroads” back in my early days of research. I could see the impact it would have on my patients and their care one day.
That is also why I am so proud of one of the newest dedicated clinics at the Ottawa Heart Institute: The Coronary Function and Imaging Clinic (CFIC) . The clinic started in October 2024 and is projected to see over 200 patients in its first year. Staff are on track to perform over 100 procedures, helping UOHI emerge as a national leader in coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) care.
Today, please consider giving a donation to support cutting-edge cardiac care and treatment that is really changing the future of heart health. Your donation of any amount will help us to advance work like this and help even more patients and their families.
Each patient represents a mother, father, sibling, or friend.
I remember one patient I had. He had several scans come back as normal. His angiogram was also normal, but his symptoms continued. I started to look deeper. He had a blockage in what we call “microvasculature.” Those little back roads. Understanding the cause of his persistent chest pain allowed us to tailor his treatment, getting to the root cause of his condition.
Now, using the Coroventis system from Abbott Vascular, the Ottawa Heart Institute proudly stands among the first cardiac centres in Canada capable of comprehensive coronary function testing (CFT).
This technology detects subtle changes in the blood flow in and around the heart. We can now identify a range of microcirculation disorders of the heart system that were tough to diagnose before.
Your support for innovative equipment makes our work possible, but the real “game- changer” is having the right people, the right equipment, the right medicine, and the right expertise under one roof.
As a comprehensive CFI program, we are revolutionizing cardiac care by combining invasive CFT with specialized imaging methods our dedicated cardiac Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan and MRI. These special imaging tests help visualize and measure changes in the heart we could not see before.
We collaborate with the nationally recognized Women’s Heart Health Clinic and its team led by Dr. Jodi Heshka. Together, we provide exceptional care for traditionally overlooked patients. While our colleagues are at work clearing and repairing the “major highways,” Dr. Zeeshan Ahmed, Dr. Derek So, and I are at the forefront of assessing and caring for patients with potentially life-threatening issues in the heart’s hardest-to-see routes.
We work in places that do not have a clear map and need special treatment to be charted. This work is painstaking but has great benefits to our community, our country, and the world.
I hope you will consider investing in new advances for patient care. We consistently strive to do the very best for every patient. Please consider supporting advancements in cardiac care today. Your contributions directly impact patients who will walk through our doors in the future.
Wishing you good health,
Dr. Aun Yeong Chong
Interventional Cardiologist, University of Ottawa Heart Institute
P.S. Please consider giving a gift today to support advancements in cardiac care. By investing in developing new treatments for cardiac patients you will help us provide the very best care for every single patient.
P.P.S. Take a moment to read about Sue’s heart journey. Receiving a diagnosis was life-changing for her. You will also be introduced to my colleague, Dr. Zeeshan Ahmed.
