Of course, such therapies cannot exist in isolation and have required new modes of visualization (imaging) to facilitate these novel transcatheter therapies both in terms of planning the procedure but also of imaging guidance to facilitate the best possible outcome from the procedure. Developments in both CT scanning and echocardiography, encompassing real time 3-dimensional reconstruction, have enabled this new era of interventions.

Conclusion
Cardiac imaging technologies are rapidly advancing and are driving improved patient care and enabling novel and less invasive therapies across the spectrum of structural heart abnormalities, coronary artery disease and cardiac arrhythmias. With the advent of virtual reality-enhanced learning and remote proctoring technologies, more widespread uptake of the available life-enhancing therapies can be achieved even at a time where physicians and their teams cannot travel to learn them. These examples illustrate the possibilities when the envelope of innovation and technology can be pushed to enhance personalized cardiac care for individual patients.
About the author: Dr. Nick West is the chief medical officer and divisional vice president of medical affairs, vascular, at Abbott.

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