Using ISDN-30 for coronary angio data transport

On a regularly basis patients are referred by the Medical Center Alkmaar (MCA) to the University Hospital VU (AZVU) in Amsterdam for PTCA. For basic decision making, a quick look into the X-ray angio made in the MCA is needed. For that reason, an ISDN-30 point-re-point data-line connection was installed, over which mpeg compressed X-ray angios are transferred from MCA to AZVU for viewing. In MCA an image server is installed, onto which the referring cardiologist downloads the angio's using Sneakernet. In AZVU a viewing station is installed on which a web-based application can be executed, with which the data-transport can be initiated and the cine films can be viewed. The speed of the data-transport, the image quality as experienced by the AZVU cardiologists, and the cost effectiveness are discussed. Also recommendations for future software improvements are given.