Diagnostic value of MDCT angiography in assessment of coronary artery bypass graft

Purpose

To evaluate the diagnostic value of MDCT angiography in assessment of coronary bypass grafts. We studied 51 patients from April 2008 to October 2011. All patients gave written informed consent, and the study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board. 96 grafts including 35 left internal mammary artery (LIMA) grafts, 5 radial artery grafts, and 56 saphenous vein grafts (SVG) were assessed by 64-MDCT and the results were compared with conventional coronary angiography as reference standard.

Results

The diagnostic value of multi-detector computed tomography for graft occlusion was: 100% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% positive predictive value, and 100% negative predictive value. The diagnostic power of multi-detector computed tomography for stenosis of the graft anastomosis was: 100% sensitivity, 96% specificity, 87.5% positive predictive value, and 100% negative predictive value, and 96.4% accuracy.

Conclusion

Multi-detector computed tomography has become an alternative to coronary angiography to diagnose graft occlusion and stenosis after coronary artery bypass. In addition, multidetector CT has the added advantage over traditional angiographic evaluation of simultaneously allowing evaluation for alternate postoperative complications that may also manifest with chest pain and dyspnea, thereby mimicking recurrent angina.     

Sixty four multi-detectors CT coronary angiography: An easy and accurate method to detect graft patency post CABG

Objective

To assess the accuracy of coronary CTA in detection of coronary artery bypass graft patency, occlusion and stenosis.

Patients and methods

Twenty-four patients with past history of coronary bypass surgery were included in this study and underwent MDCT coronary angiography. Invasive coronary angiography was done within 2 weeks of MDCT coronary angiography. All grafts considered patent were then evaluated for the presence of significant stenosis. Significant stenosis was defined as reduction in diameter of more than 50%.

Results

All the MDCT scans were interpretable and a total number of 78 CABG conduits were analyzed. At MDCT angiography 4 (5.2%) grafts were classified as occluded and 74 (94.8%) grafts were patent. Significant stenosis was detected in 7 (9.4%) out of the 74 patent grafts. At invasive coronary angiography; when occlusion and significant stenosis pooled together they were 9 grafts; 4 arterial and 5 venous. All these 9 grafts were detected at MSCT (sensitivity is 100%). In 67 out of 69 grafts occlusion or significant stenosis was correctly ruled out (specificity 97.1%). The diagnostic accuracy of MDCT angiography when compared with invasive angiography was 97.4%. The negative predictive value was 100% and positive predictive value was 81.8%.

Conclusion

MDCT coronary angiography is an accurate imaging technique for the evaluation of CABG patency and in detection of graft stenosis and confirms of previous studies using 64 MDCT.     

Direct visualization of aorto-coronary bypass grafts by two-dimensional echocardiography: A new clinical application

An attempt was made to assess noninvasively the patency of aorto-coronary bypass grafts by two-dimensional echocardiography (2-D echo) in 21 patients who underwent myocardial revascularization. Fifteen patients had one graft while the other six had two grafts. All 21 patients underwent angiography 6–18 months after operation. A day before angiography a 2-D echo was performed with the aim of visualizing the bypass grafts. In 18 patients with 23 grafts (13 with 1 graft and 5 with 2 grafts) it was possible to visualize the tract of the graft, by 2-D echo; 16 were judged patent on 2-D echo and confirmed by selective angiography, while 5 grafts were considered occluded both on 2-D echo and angiography. The other 2 grafts were considered to be occluded on 2-D echo but angiographic control displayed their patency. In 3 patients 2-D echo failed to visualize grafts that were patent angiographically. These data must be considered preliminary and need validation in a larger number of patients. However it is reasonable to conclude that 2-D echo has a reliable capacity to predict graft patency. Such an application may be of value in sequential control of patients with aorto-coronary bypass surgery, especially when combined with other clinical and/or technical data.     

The use of computed tomography in the diagnosis of coronary artery bypass graft patency

In a preliminary evaluation of the use of dynamic computed tomography (CT) for the detection of patent aortocoronary bypass grafts, 30 patients were scanned either during the early postoperative peroid or after graft patency was determined by angiography. To visualize the proximal grafts, CT scans were taken through the aortic root following an intravenous bolus injection of contrast medium. Patent bypass grafts to the left anterior descending and right coronary arteries were demonstrated in 77.5%, while posterior grafts to the circumflex and obtuse marginal coronary arteries were detected in 40%. With its pontential for extracting dynamic events, CT scanning provides a new, noninvasive modality for the diagnosis of patent bypass grafts, which heretofore have only been visualized by selective angiography.     

Evaluation of coronary artery bypass grafts by magnetic resonance imaging.

Magnetic resonance (MR) angiography and flow mapping have the potential to become a major noninvasive diagnostic tool for the assessment of coronary artery bypass graft morphology and function. Several MR sequences, such as conventional non-respiratory compensated methods, and phase contrast cine flow sequences have been reported for the evaluation of bypass graft patency. However the visualization of different graft segments and the detection of graft stenosis remains difficult. Recent advances in MR coronary angiography and flow mapping are volume coronary angiongraphy with targeted scans, navigator gated angiography, contrast-enhanced angiography, and breath-hold or navigator gated flow sequences. Future approaches, such as navigator gated fast MR techniques resulting in high-resolution angiography in combination with breath-hold MR flow mapping with high temporal resolution, might allow a comprehensive evaluation of bypass graft stenosis and function. This review article will address the major issues concerning the MR evaluation of bypass grafts.     

Inadvertent anastomosis of saphenous vein graft to a cardiac vein detected with coronary computed tomographic angiography

A 34-year-old man with a prior history of Hodgkin’s disease and coronary artery bypass surgery for radiation-induced left main disease presented with persistent chest pain. Cardiac catheterization showed near simultaneous filling of the venous system during arterial injection and could not precisely delineate the insertion point of the vein graft anastamosis to the diagonal branch, and the patient was referred for coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA). CTA demonstrated that the anastamosis of the graft was with a cardiac vein. This case illustrates the valuable complementary role of both angiographic methodologies in confirming a complex anatomic diagnosis.     

电子束CT血管造影对冠状动脉疾病的诊断与随访

目的评价电子束CT血管造影(EBA)及其三维血管成像技术对冠状动脉疾病的诊断与随访价值. 资料与方法 87例经EBA检查的患者,其中支架置入术后随访16例,搭桥术后随访9例.除9例搭桥患者外,其余78例均有冠状动脉造影(CAG)结果证实. 结果 EBA可评价的冠状动脉中,对左主干和前降支的诊断敏感性、特异性最高,尤其是近段,其次为右冠,对回旋支的诊断敏感性和特异性则较低;16例支架置入术后患者共放置支架47枚,EBA准确定位45枚(95.7%),对支架内开通诊断的符合率为74.5%;9例冠状动脉搭桥术后的患者,共搭建冠状动脉桥血管27支,EBA对桥血管开通与否诊断的符合率为81.5%. 结论 EBA对冠状动脉狭窄的诊断具有较高的术前筛选价值,对术后的随访也有较大的潜力,是一项很有优势的无创性冠心病检查方法.     

双源CT冠状动脉成像评价冠状动脉搭桥术后桥血管通畅情况

目的探讨双源 CT 冠状动脉成像对冠状动脉搭桥术后桥血管通畅状况的诊断价值.资料与方法38例患者于冠状动脉搭桥术后行双源 CT 冠状动脉成像与冠状动脉造影检查,以冠状动脉造影作为“金标准”,对双源 CT 冠状动脉成像结果进行分析.结果38例患者共检出桥血管92支,其中内乳动脉桥31支,大隐静脉桥61支;31支内乳动脉桥中,26支(83.9%)桥血管通畅,5支(16.1%)管腔狭窄、闭塞;61支大隐静脉桥血管中35支(57.4%)桥血管通畅;26支(42.6%)管腔狭窄、闭塞.大隐静脉桥血管狭窄、闭塞的发生率明显高于内乳动脉桥血管(P<0.05).双源 CT 冠状动脉成像评价桥血管狭窄、闭塞的敏感性为93.9%,特异性为100.0%.结论双源 CT 冠状动脉成像对冠状动脉搭桥术后桥血管通畅状况的评价有较高的诊断价值,是一种快速、无创、准确、安全的检查方法.     

64层CT血管成像在冠状动脉弹性研究中的价值

目的：评价64层螺旋CT血管成像在测量和计算冠状动脉相关弹性参数中的价值。方法：选取2008年9月-2009年10月本院行冠状动脉CT血管成像检查患者资料共86例,通过测量冠状动脉344节段在收缩期、舒张期的动脉管径变化,分析冠状动脉各段相关动脉弹性参数及其与脉压及平均动脉压的相关性,分析冠状动脉顺应性与收缩压的相关性,包括左主干、左前降支、左回旋支及右冠状动脉。结果：冠状动脉各支血管顺应性参数间存在差别,Friedman T检验,P=0.001,冠状动脉各支血管顺应性与脉压及平均动脉压呈负相关,其余冠状动脉弹性相关参数与脉压及平均动脉压相关性较差;冠状动脉顺应性与收缩压呈负相关（P〈0.05）。结论：64层螺旋CT血管成像可作为一种冠状动脉管腔测量的有效方法,冠状动脉顺应性可较好反映正常冠状动脉血管壁弹性。     

64排螺旋CT冠状动脉造影与DSA的对照研究

目的:通过和冠脉造影对比,评价64排螺旋CT冠状动脉成像在冠状动脉狭窄中的临床应用价值。方法:28例患者同时行64排螺旋CT冠状动脉成像和有创性冠脉造影检查,依据AHA17段分段法,评价所有有效节段,并将两者进行对比。结果:冠脉造影显示阴性病例占7.1%(2例),单只病变占21.4%(6例),多支病变占71.4%(20例)。按节段分析,CT检出冠脉狭窄的敏感度,特异度,阳性预测值和阴性预测值分别为91.1%,94.6%,90.0和95.3%。结论:64排螺旋CT冠状动脉成像和传统的冠脉造影检查对检出正常冠脉节段以及狭窄节段具有很好的一致性。     

Post-mortem cast angiography in the diagnostics of graft complications in patients with fatal outcome following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)

The advantages and limitations of a novel post-mortem angiographic method using solidifying silicone rubber and lead oxide as a contrast medium in detecting coronary artery graft complications on a routine basis were evaluated in a series of 223 consecutive patients with fatal outcome within 30 days following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Of these patients, 166 (74.4%) were male and 57 (25.6%) female (mean age 61.9 ± 9). Coronary grafts totalled 660 (3.0 per patient) with 517 aortic and 838 coronary anastomoses. At autopsy, the rubber cast model of the grafts and coronary arterial tree was exposed by a bend scalpel and sites of possible complications were examined. Post-mortem angiographs were re-evaluated and compared with preoperative angiographs and dissection findings. By combining the findings of angiography and heart dissection, 122 (54.7%) of the 223 patients were found to have some type of complication of the graft or the anastomosis. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of postmortem angiography was 100% in assessing narrowing or twisting of the graft as well as narrowing of the aortal anastomosis, whereas these findings were revealed with difficulty by autopsy dissection only. In cases with correct x-ray projection, narrowing and occlusion of the proximal aortal and distal coronary anastomosis were also reliably revealed by angiography. In contrast, graft thrombosis was clearly overdiagnosed by angiography, leading to a lower specificity (84%) but high sensitivity (100%) in detecting this complication. Post-mortem angiography also failed to detect dissection of the wall of the graft or anastomosis. Technical problems with this angiographic method were due to too low perfusion pressure, too rapid polymerizing of the silicone rubber, leakage of contrast medium into the ventricles, or faulty x-ray projections. These results suggest that our post-mortem angiographic technique, yielding a permanent rubber- cast model of the graft and anastomosis site, improves the accuracy of diagnostics of postoperative CABG complications and eases postoperative autopsy dissection, which can now be directed to confirm suspected complications. Received: 27 October 1997 / Received in revised form: 2 July 1998     

Cardiac CT angiography after coronary artery surgery in children using 64-slice CT scan

Objective

The purpose of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of 64-slice CT with that of invasive angiography in the detection of graft and/or coronary angioplasty stenosis in children who had undergone coronary artery surgery.

Population and methods

Fifteen consecutive children (8 male and 7 female; age 9.2 ± 6.1 years) underwent 64-slice CT because of chest pain or ECG changes mean 4.8 ± 3.7 years after surgical coronary artery surgery; 10 patients had coronary angioplasty using a patch from the saphenous vein, four had mammary artery bypass, and one had saphenous vein bypass. Six main segments of the coronary arteries and all the bypass graft considered as a single segment were analyzed and compared with invasive angiography used as the reference standard.

Results

CT correctly identified the four children with coronary angioplasty and mammary graft lesions that were confirmed by conventional angiography: one patient had a significant stenosis (>50% stenosis) at the mammary bypass graft anastomosis site; three other had non-significant stenosis (<50% stenosis) including a mild lesion of the saphenous vein patch in two patients and a mild lesion at the anastomosis site of the mammary bypass in one. All segments identified as normal by CT in the other 11 children were also found to be normal by conventional angiography.

Conclusion

In centers expert in this technique, 64-slice CT scanning is a promising, rapid, and useful diagnostic technique for evaluating both coronary angioplasty and bypass graft lesions in children who had undergone coronary artery surgery.     

双源CT在冠状动脉搭桥术后随访中的临床应用

目的 评价双源CT冠状动脉造影对冠状动脉搭桥术后桥血管病变随访的应用价值.方法 50例冠状动脉搭桥患者,术后6～20个月行双源CT冠状动脉造影检查;对原始数据行VR、CPR、MIP多种图像后处理技术进行重建.由2位有经验的放射科医生对重建图像进行观察,对桥血管通畅性进行分级诊断.结果 50例患者总计140支桥血管,134支桥血管显示良好,其中通畅或狭窄＜50％的桥血管共127支（91％）,狭窄≥50％的桥血管7支（5％）,闭塞未显示的桥血管共6支（4％）.结论 DSCT冠状动脉造影能够清晰显示并评价冠状动脉桥血管病变,尤其是重度狭窄和闭塞的桥血管,可作为冠状动脉搭桥术后随访的有效评价手段.     

Three-dimensional helical CT angiography in renal transplant recipients: a new problem-solving tool.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to describe the use of three-dimensional helical CT angiography for the evaluation of renal transplant recipients presenting with hypertension, graft dysfunction, or both after transplantation by evaluating the native and transplanted renal arteries in a single examination. CONCLUSION: Early results indicate that three-dimensional helical CT angiography of renal transplant recipients presenting with hypertension, graft dysfunction, or both after transplantation yields valuable information that can be used to guide further therapy.     

Assessment of coronary artery patency after stent placement using magnetic resonance angiography

The ability to noninvasively assess the patency of coronary stents would represent a significant advance. We evaluated the safety and ability of two-dimensional coronary MR angiography In imaging stents and suggesting patency. Coronary MR angiography of 26 coronary stents (Palmaz-Schatz) was performed in 16 patients 39 to 73 years of age. Studies were performed between 2 and 4 months after stent placement. All patients were symptom free at the time of imaging. Coronary MR angiography was performed with a commercial 1.5-T MR imager using an electrocardio-graphically gated pulse sequence with breath-holding. Images were obtained in mid-diastole with and without fat suppression. Image artifacts caused by the metal in the stents were clearly visualized in all 26 stents (100% sensitivity for stent detection). Arterial flow signal was seen in the coronary artery or graft distal to the stent in 25 of 26 cases (96%). All patients, except for the one in which distal flow could not be seen, remained symptom free for >2 years. The distribution of stent locations was as follows: 10 in the right coronary artery (RCA), 10 in the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), 2 in the left circumflex coronary artery, and 4 in saphenous vein grafts (SVGs) to RCA. One patient had 2 RCA and 2 LAD stents, one had 3 RCA and 1 LAD stents, one had 3 SVG stents, and two had double RCA stents. Coronary MR angiography is safe for noninvasive imaging of coronary stents, and in the proper clinical setting, it can be used to help suggest patency.     

CT angiography of lower extremity vascular bypass grafts

Over the past several years computed tomography (CT) technology has advanced to such a degree that CT angiography (CTA) has become the study of choice at our institution for imaging lower extremity vascular bypass grafts. CTA quickly provides anatomic information about the state of the graft and identifies virtually all forms of bypass graft failure and related complications. Furthermore, detailed vascular anatomy is seen beyond the graft and affords sufficient anatomic detail for surgical revision without the need for other angiographic studies. Although catheter angiography, duplex-ultrasound, magnetic resonance angiography, and nuclear medicine studies all continue to play some role in the evaluation of vascular grafts, they are more often used as problem solving modalities when CTA findings are equivocal. Whereas it was once essential to catheterize directly through a failing bypass graft or pass catheters into the graft from a distant arterial puncture to obtain an angiogram of a failing bypass graft, CTA produces arteriograms with only intravenous contrast administration, a brief visit to the CT scanner, and return to daily activities without catheterization, discomfort, or risk to the bypass conduit.     

64层螺旋CT在冠状动脉搭桥术后的应用价值

目的:探讨64层螺旋CT在冠状动脉搭桥术后的临床应用价值。方法:采用西门子Somatom Sensation Cardiac64螺旋CT对22例冠脉搭桥术后的患者(共计44根桥血管)进行了扫描,其中11例患者同时进行了冠状动脉造影检查。结果:64层螺旋CT显示22例患者发现44支桥血管,显示率100%。44支桥血管中,33支(75%)通畅、5支(11.4%)闭塞、3支(6.8%)中重度狭窄、3支(6.8%)轻度狭窄。与冠脉造影对照,诊断桥血管明显狭窄及闭塞的敏感性100%,特异性92.9%,阳性预测值87.5%,阴性预测值100%,准确率95.2%。结论:64层螺旋CT是评价桥血管闭塞及狭窄的可靠方法。     

Facilitating coronary artery evaluation in MDCT using a 3D automatic vessel segmentation tool

The purpose of this study was to investigate a 3D coronary artery segmentation algorithm using 16-row MDCT data sets. Fifty patients underwent cardiac CT (Sensation 16, Siemens) and coronary angiography. Automatic and manual detection of coronary artery stenosis was performed. A 3D coronary artery segmentation algorithm (Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics, Darmstadt) was used for automatic evaluation. All significant stenoses (>50%) in vessels >1.5 mm in diameter were protocoled. Each detection tool was used by one reader who was blinded to the results of the other detection method and the results of coronary angiography. Sensitivity and specificity were determined for automatic and manual detection as well as was the time for both CT-based evaluation methods. The overall sensitivity and specificity of the automatic and manual approach were 93.1 vs. 95.83% and 86.1 vs. 81.9%. The time required for automatic evaluation was significantly shorter than with the manual approach, i.e., 246.04±43.17 s for the automatic approach and 526.88±45.71 s for the manual approach (P<0.0001). In 94% of the coronary artery branches, automatic detection required less time than the manual approach. Automatic coronary vessel evaluation is feasible. It reduces the time required for cardiac CT evaluation with similar sensitivity and specificity as well as facilitates the evaluation of MDCT coronary angiography in a standardized fashion.     

Non-Ischemic Perfusion Defects due to Delayed Arrival of Contrast Material on Stress Perfusion Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging after Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

Herein we report about the adenosine stress perfusion MR imaging findings of a 50-year-old man who exhibited two different perfusion defects resulting from two different mechanisms after a coronary artery bypass surgery. An invasive coronary angiography confirmed that one perfusion defect at the mid-anterior wall resulted from an ischemia due to graft stenosis. However, no stenosis was detected on the graft responsible for the mid-inferior wall showing the other perfusion defect. It was assumed that the perfusion defect at the mid-inferior wall resulted from delayed perfusion owing to the long pathway of the bypass graft. The semiquantitative analysis of corrected signal-time curves supported our speculation, demonstrating that the rest-to-stress ratio index of the maximal slope of the myocardial territory in question was similar to those of normal myocardium, whereas that of myocardium with the stenotic graft showed a typical ischemic pattern. A delayed perfusion during long graft pathway in a post-bypass graft patient can mimick a true perfusion defect on myocardial stress MR imaging. Radiologists should be aware of this knowledge to avoid misinterpretation of graft and myocardial status in post bypass surgery patients.     

Interventions in Infrainguinal Bypass Grafts

The interventional radiologist plays an important role in the detection and prevention of infrainguinal bypass failure. Early detection and evaluation of flow-limiting lesions effectively preserve graft (venous bypass and polyester or expanded polytetrafluoroethylene bypass) patency by identifying stenoses before occlusion occurs. Delay in treatment of the at-risk graft may result in graft failure and a reduced chance of successful revascularization. For this reason, surveillance protocols form an important part of follow-up after infrainguinal bypass surgery. As well as having an understanding of the application of imaging techniques including ultrasound, MR angiography, CT angiography and digital subtraction angiography, the interventional radiologist should have detailed knowledge of the minimally invasive therapeutic options. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), or alternatively cutting balloon angioplasty, is the interventional treatment of choice in prevention of graft failure and occlusion. Further alternatives include metallic stent placement, fibrinolysis, and mechanical thrombectomy. Primary assisted patency rates following PTA can be up to 65% at 5 years. When the endovascular approach is unsuccessful, these therapeutic options are complemented by surgical procedures including vein patch revision, jump grafting, or placement of a new graft.