Mystery donor's £100K boost for patients
The new 3D imaging machine, which cost £80,000, will be used in one of the two theatres in the Trent Cardiac Centre at City Hospital.
It will help surgeons get a better picture of their patients' heart functions, aiding diagnosis and assessment.
The other £20,000 from the mystery donor to Nottingham University Hospitals Charity is being used for research into heart problems.
Cardiac surgeon Ian Mitchell said the ultrasound machine was "specifically for looking at the heart".
He said: "It will help us to look at the function of the heart and particularly the function of the valves, to get a better assessment of what might be wrong with the patient.
"Also, when you have done an operation or put a new valve in, you can see if it is working properly."
The 3D system will replace the existing 2D ultrasound scanner, which will be moved to the cardiac intensive care unit once the new equipment is installed.
The other theatre at the Trent Cardiac Centre already has a similar 3D imaging machine.
Researchers will use £20,000 from the anonymous donor to study the connection between cells in relation to post-operative heart problems.
Officials say the female donor who provided the money wanted to combine the new equipment with the research.
Some patients develop an irregular heart rate after surgery as a short-term, temporary complication.
This can lead to a risk of strokes and clots forming in the heart.
Mr Mitchell said: "Nobody knows quite why this happens.
"This research project is to try and look at one aspect of heart function to see if we can understand what might cause the problem."
He added that the centre was grateful to the donor for enhancing patient care by way of the equipment and research.
For more information, to make a donation or to get involved in fund-raising for Nottingham University Hospitals Charity visit www.nuhcharity.org.uk.
robert.parsons@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk
3d imaging: A surgeon pictured with the new machine.
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