Breakthrough cardiology research: Measuring blood flow under the tongue immediately after a severe acute heart attack accurately predicts in-hospital mortality.
Until now, assessing systemic blood flow in post-heart attack patients was challenging. Cardiologist-in-training Corstiaan den Uil at Erasmus MC has pioneered a tongue measurement method that makes this possible.
The study shows that patients with poor blood flow to organs after an acute heart attack—about 50% of this group—face high in-hospital mortality. This tongue measurement identifies impaired circulation early, enabling interventions to improve flow and potentially reduce deaths.
Erasmus MC anticipates the 'tongue method' will soon be adopted in other hospitals.
