家属陪同模拟场景呼吸训练对冠状动脉CT血管造影检查的影响

目的 探讨在家属陪同下进行模拟场景呼吸训练对冠状动脉CT血管造影(CCTA)检查时患者呼吸配合及图像质量的影响,旨在提高患者检查配合度、检查效率及图像质量。方法 选取2021年7月至2022年6月收治于西安大兴医院心脏内科拟行CCTA检查的患者作为研究对象。将其随机分为3组,每组各90例。A组：检查前1 d至医院准备室,在家属全程陪同下于模拟场景中进行呼吸训练;B组：检查当天在无家属陪同的情况下,于模拟场景中进行呼吸训练;C组：检查当天接受常规呼吸训练。比较3组患者呼吸训练前及正式检查前焦虑自评量表(SAS)得分情况,以及正式检查时的呼吸配合达标率、心率稳定度和冠状动脉图像质量。结果 A组及B组患者CCTA检查呼吸配合达标率均为100%,C组为91.11%,3组比较差异有统计学意义(χ²=8.326,P=0.004)。正式检查前,A组患者SAS评分低于B组与C组(P<0.05);且A组患者检查过程中心率波动最小[(1.81±6.99)次/min],冠状动脉图像质量优良率最高(97.78%);均优于B、C组(P<0.05)。结论 检查前1 d在家属陪同下...     

Coronary angiography by computed tomography: coronary imaging evolves

Rapid technological advances have facilitated high-resolution noninvasive coronary angiography using multislice computed tomography. Appropriateness guidelines recently have been published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and endorsed by several imaging specialty societies. Clinical studies are now available supporting the use of this method in selected diagnostic situations, particularly when the exclusion of coronary artery disease is of paramount clinical concern.     

Effect of low tube kV on radiation dose and image quality in retrospective ECG-gated coronary CT angiography

IntroductionCoronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) has emerged as a useful diagnostic imaging modality in the assessment of coronary artery disease. However, the potential risks due to exposure to ionizing radiation associated with CCTA have raised concerns.ObjectivesCCTA can be done with low dose technique to reduce radiation exposure, without compromise of image quality or diagnostic capabilities.Material and methodsForty patients referred for CCTA were examined with low kV (100 kV for patients ?85–61 kg and 80 kV for patients ?60 kg). The dose length product (DLP) were compared with other group (40 patients) with comparable body weight, scan length and acquisition parameters. The second group was selected from PACS database, for which CCTA was done with standard 120 kV.ResultsThere was considerable reduction of radiation dose about 40% with 100 kV and 60% with 80 kV compared to standard 120 kV CCTA protocols with preserved image quality.ConclusionThe use of lower tube voltage leads to significant reduction in radiation exposure in CCTA. Image quality in non-obese patients is not negatively influenced.     

Association of cardiac events with coronary artery disease detected by 64-slice or greater coronary CT angiography: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

The value of ≥ 64-slice coronary CT angiography (CCTA) to determine odds of cardiac death or non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI) needs further clarification.

Methods

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis using publications reporting events/severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with suspected CAD undergoing CCTA. Patients were divided into: no CAD, non-obstructive CAD (maximal stenosis < 50%), and obstructive CAD (≥ 50% stenosis). Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated using a fixed or random effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I² index.

Results

We included thirty-two studies comprising 41,960 patients with 363 all-cause deaths (15.0%), 114 cardiac deaths (4.7%), 342 MI (14.2%), 69 unstable angina (2.8%), and 1527 late revascularizations (63.2%) over 1.96 (SD 0.77) years of follow-up. Cardiac death or MI occurred in 0.04% without, 1.29% with non-obstructive, and 6.53% with obstructive CAD. OR for cardiac death or MI was: 14.92 (95% CI, 6.78 to 32.85) for obstructive CAD, 6.41 (95% CI, 2.44 to 16.84) for non-obstructive CAD versus no CAD, and 3.19 (95% CI, 2.29 to 4.45) for non-obstructive versus obstructive CAD and 6.56 (95% CI, 3.07 to 14.02) for no versus any CAD. Similar trends were noted for all-cause mortality and composite major adverse cardiovascular events.

Conclusions

Increasing CAD severity detected by CCTA is associated with cardiac death or MI, all-cause mortality, and composite major adverse cardiovascular events. Absence of CAD is associated with very low odds of major adverse events, but non-obstructive disease significantly increases odds of cardiac adverse events in this follow-up period.     

Trans-lesional fractional flow reserve gradient as derived from coronary CT improves patient management: ADVANCE registry

BackgroundThe role of change in fractional flow reserve derived from CT (FFR_CT) across coronary stenoses (ΔFFR_CT) in guiding downstream testing in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) is unknown.ObjectivesTo investigate the incremental value of ΔFFR_CT in predicting early revascularization and improving efficiency of catheter laboratory utilization.MaterialsPatients with CAD on coronary CT angiography (CCTA) were enrolled in an international multicenter registry. Stenosis severity was assessed as per CAD-Reporting and Data System (CAD-RADS), and lesion-specific FFR_CT was measured 2 ?cm distal to stenosis. ΔFFR_CT was manually measured as the difference of FFR_CT across visible stenosis.ResultsOf 4730 patients (66 ?± ?10 years; 34% female), 42.7% underwent ICA and 24.7% underwent early revascularization. ΔFFR_CT remained an independent predictor for early revascularization (odds ratio per 0.05 increase [95% confidence interval], 1.31 [1.26–1.35]; p ?< ?0.001) after adjusting for risk factors, stenosis features, and lesion-specific FFR_CT. Among the 3 models (model 1: risk factors ?+ ?stenosis type and location ?+ ?CAD-RADS; model 2: model 1 ?+ ?FFR_CT; model 3: model 2 ?+ ?ΔFFR_CT), model 3 improved discrimination compared to model 2 (area under the curve, 0.87 [0.86–0.88] vs 0.85 [0.84–0.86]; p ?< ?0.001), with the greatest incremental value for FFR_CT 0.71–0.80. ΔFFR_CT of 0.13 was the optimal cut-off as determined by the Youden index. In patients with CAD-RADS ≥3 and lesion-specific FFR_CT ≤0.8, a diagnostic strategy incorporating ΔFFR_CT >0.13, would potentially reduce ICA by 32.2% (1638–1110, p ?< ?0.001) and improve the revascularization to ICA ratio from 65.2% to 73.1%.ConclusionsΔFFR_CT improves the discrimination of patients who underwent early revascularization compared to a standard diagnostic strategy of CCTA with FFR_CT, particularly for those with FFR_CT 0.71–0.80. ΔFFR_CT has the potential to aid decision-making for ICA referral and improve efficiency of catheter laboratory utilization.     

Coronary plaque characteristics in computed tomography and 2-year outcomes: The PREDICT study

BackgroundCoronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) not only provides information regarding luminal stenoses but also allows for visualization of mural atheromatous changes (coronary plaques).ObjectiveWe sought to elucidate whether plaques seen on CCTA enable prediction of 2-year outcomes in patients with suspected and known coronary artery disease (CAD).MethodsOf 3015 patients who underwent CCTA, the images and 2-year clinical courses of 2802 patients were independently analyzed. The primary endpoint was the composite of all-cause death and acute coronary syndrome.ResultsDuring the 2-year observation period, 49 (1.7%) patients developed the primary outcome. The 2-year rates of the primary outcome in the normal (n = 515, no mural lesions), calcium (n = 654, calcified lesion alone), and plaque groups (n = 1633, presence of noncalcified or partially calcified plaques) were 0.2%, 2.0%, and 2.1%, respectively (P = 0.0028). Adverse plaque features such as low attenuation, positive remodeling, spotty calcification, and the napkin-ring sign (low-attenuation core with a higher-attenuation rim) were assessed by an independent core laboratory. Stepwise multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis showed that a plaque with two or more characteristics (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.98; 95% confidence interval, 1.09–3.60; P = 0.0254), age of ≥67 years (mean), statin treatment after CCTA, and obstructive stenosis remained independent predictors of the primary outcome.ConclusionsPlaque imaging in CCTA has predictive value for the 2-year outcome and is a useful identifier for high-risk patients among those with known and suspected CAD.