Prospective ECG-triggered sequential scan protocol for coronary dual-source CT angiography: initial experience

The exposure to ionizing radiation has raised concerns about coronary CT angiography (CCTA). Recently, prospective ECG-triggered sequential scan technique has been introduced in CCTA to significantly reduce radiation exposure. The purpose of this study was to analyze our experience with the sequential scan technique on a dual-source CT system with respect to image quality and radiation dose. Qualitative and quantitative image quality as well as radiation dose were assessed in 514 consecutive patients undergoing CCTA either with sequential or spiral image acquisition technique on dual-source CT. The selection of the applied scan technique was at the discretion of an experienced coronary CT angiographer. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied to identify predictors of diagnostic image quality. Diagnostic CCTA image quality was found in 1,395/1,429 (97.6%) versus 4,664/4,782 (97.5%) of the coronary segments in patients studied with sequential versus spiral scanning (P = 0.82). While the application of betablockers for CCTA was an independent factor for improved image quality in the multivariate regression analysis, heart rate variability and body mass index were indepentently associated with a deterioriated image quality. The scan technique had no independent impact on diagnostic image quality. Mean estimated radiation dose was reduced by 63% in patients studied with sequential scan technique (3.4 ± 2.2 vs. 7.6 ± 5.0 mSv, P < 0.01). In patients with a low and stable heart rate, the sequential scan technique is a promising method to effectively reduce radiation exposure in dual-source CCTA. Due to the comparable image quality in sequential and spiral dual-source CCTA, the sequential scan technique should be considered as the primary scan protocol in appropriate patients.     

Prospective ECG-triggered sequential scan protocol for coronary dual-source CT angiography: initial experience

The exposure to ionizing radiation has raised concerns about coronary CT angiography (CCTA). Recently, prospective ECG-triggered sequential scan technique has been introduced in CCTA to significantly reduce radiation exposure. The purpose of this study was to analyze our experience with the sequential scan technique on a dual-source CT system with respect to image quality and radiation dose. Qualitative and quantitative image quality as well as radiation dose were assessed in 514 consecutive patients undergoing CCTA either with sequential or spiral image acquisition technique on dual-source CT. The selection of the applied scan technique was at the discretion of an experienced coronary CT angiographer. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied to identify predictors of diagnostic image quality. Diagnostic CCTA image quality was found in 1,395/1,429 (97.6%) versus 4,664/4,782 (97.5%) of the coronary segments in patients studied with sequential versus spiral scanning (P = 0.82). While the application of betablockers for CCTA was an independent factor for improved image quality in the multivariate regression analysis, heart rate variability and body mass index were indepentently associated with a deterioriated image quality. The scan technique had no independent impact on diagnostic image quality. Mean estimated radiation dose was reduced by 63% in patients studied with sequential scan technique (3.4 ± 2.2 vs. 7.6 ± 5.0 mSv, P < 0.01). In patients with a low and stable heart rate, the sequential scan technique is a promising method to effectively reduce radiation exposure in dual-source CCTA. Due to the comparable image quality in sequential and spiral dual-source CCTA, the sequential scan technique should be considered as the primary scan protocol in appropriate patients.     

Assessment of image quality and radiation dose in prospective ECG-triggered coronary CT angiography compared with retrospective ECG-gated coronary CT angiography

We sought to determine the cut-off point of the average heart rate (HR) and HR differences in obtaining diagnostic image quality using prospective electrocardiographically-triggered (PT) coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) and to compare image quality and radiation dose for CCTA obtained with PT CCTA and retrospective electrocardiographically-gated (RG) CCTA. A total of 178 patients who were referred for CCTA were enrolled in the study. Two independent radiologists evaluated subjective image quality. The non-diagnostic coronary segments were 32 of 1,226 segments (2.6%) for PT CCTA and 12 of 1,346 segments (0.9%) for RG CCTA (P < 0.001). The mean image quality scores for PT CCTA and RG CCTA were 3.82 ± 0.29 and 3.93 ± 0.14, respectively. The mean radiation dose of patients that underwent PT CCTA was 3.83 ± 0.84 mSv and RG CCTA 10.7 ± 2.70 mSv. For patients who underwent PT CCTA, image quality was inversely related to HR (56.5 ± 4.3 bpm; r = 0.38; P < 0.001) and HR differences (2.8 ± 2.7 bpm; r = 0.49; P < 0.001). With the use of receiver operator characteristic analysis, a cut-off HR of 57 bpm (58% sensitivity, 67% specificity) and HR difference of 6 bpm (93% sensitivity, 46% specificity) were the best threshold for the prediction of diagnostic image quality. In patients with a regular, low HR, PT CCTA offers diagnostic image quality and substantially reduces effective radiation compared with the use of RG CCTA with dose modulation.     

心电门控多层螺旋CT冠脉显像与常规冠脉造影对比研究

目的:回顾性分析心电门控多层螺旋CT(MSCT)经静脉注射对比剂冠状动脉成像的可行性,探讨MSCT在冠状动脉疾病诊断的可行性及对冠脉狭窄的显示能力。方法:30例窦性心律患者经MSCT检查1~3天后行定量冠脉造影。以3.5ml/s速率经静脉注入对比剂,延迟15s,用GE公司MSCT机进行扫描,要求患者1次屏气30s,采用回顾性心电门控显像窗进行显像重建。分析所有直径≥2mm冠脉及分支并识别狭窄(≥50%)及闭塞病变。其结果与定量冠脉造影进行对比。结果:在253支冠脉(左主干、左前降支、左回旋支和右冠脉,包括≥2mm的侧支)中218支(86.2%)可评价;11例(36.7%)患者所有冠脉均可评价。检测明显狭窄(≥50%)的敏感性是82.6%、特异性是97.9%;阳性预测值(PPV)是82.6%、阴性预测值(NPV)是97.9%;高度狭窄(≥75%)的敏感性、特异性分别是83.3%、98.1%。总的敏感性(包括MSCT不可评价的血管)是68.4%。对于右冠脉近段、左主干、前降支的MSCT直径测量与定量冠脉造影相比相关性较好。结论:采用回顾性心电门控多层螺旋CT冠脉成像在显像质量较好的情况下,具有较高的准确性。由于目前MSCT不能有效消除冠脉运动的伪影影响,限制了该技术的临床应用,但仍然是一项有前途的冠状动脉疾病诊断方法。     

护理柔性管理的利与弊分析

柔性管理是一种以“以人为本”的人性化管理,它是在研究人的心理和行为规律的基础上,重视人的情感、个性、欲望、能力等因素的作用,采取非强制性的方式,在人的心目中产生一种潜在的说服力,从而把组织意志变为个人的自觉行动,是一种较理想的管理模式。柔性管理是相对刚性管理而言的,它也有需要改进的地方,在实际护理管理工作中,取其精华,去其不足,刚柔相济,创建一种完美的护理管理模式,为护士创造一个良好的工作氛围,促进护士实现人生价值。     

Prospective versus retrospective ECG-gated 64-detector coronary CT angiography for evaluation of coronary artery bypass graft patency: comparison of image quality,radiation dose and diagnostic accuracy

We aimed to evaluate image quality, radiation dose and diagnostic accuracy of coronary CT angiography (CCTA) with a prospectively gated transverse-axial scan (PGT) compared with a retrospectively gated helical scan (RGH), using a 64-slice scanner in patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). Of the 131 consecutive patients that underwent CABG using 64-slice multidetector row computed tomography during 2008, patients with heart rate (HR) of <75 beats/minute (bpm), and HR variation <10 bpm were included in the study. PGT was performed on 39 patients with 93 grafts, with RGH performed on 43 patients with 102 grafts. Image quality (1: excellent—4: poor) and estimated radiation dose were compared between the two groups. Of these, a total of 64 segments in 26 patients were subjected to invasive coronary angiography (ICA) for clinical reasons. Diagnostic accuracy of CCTA for evaluation of graft was performed between the two groups with ICA as a reference standard in terms of significant stenosis (≥ 50% of luminal stenosis). The image quality was not statistically different in the two groups. Mean effective radiation dose was 6.5 mSv in PGT-group, which was significantly lower than that in the RGH-group (21.2 mSv; P < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in diagnostic accuracy between the two groups (PGT-group versus RGH-group; 93.1% versus 91.4%). PGT can achieve dose reductions of up to 70% compared to RGH while maintaining image quality and high diagnostic accuracy in patients undergoing CABG.     

Prospective ECG-gated 320 row detector computed tomography: implications for CT angiography and perfusion imaging

Cardiac multidetector computed tomography has evolved from early four detector systems that first demonstrated the feasibility of non-invasive angiography to today’s wide-area detector computed tomography systems, such as 320-row detector computed tomography. As detector arrays have widened, there have been great improvements in image quality that have improved test accuracy. In addition, wider detector arrays have allowed for the application of prospective ECG-gating for CT angiography, although the current 64-row detector systems have some limitations. 320-row detector computed tomography with full cardiac coverage allows for cardiac imaging in a single heart beat. This technology has realized some of the great advantages provided by full cardiac coverage in regards to image quality (elimination of step artifacts and variation in contrast enhancement), patient safety (reductions in overall radiation and contrast dose), and the prospects for combined CT angiography and myocardial perfusion imaging are very promising. We will review the technical aspects of 320-row detector computed tomography and their implications for coronary angiography and perfusion imaging.     

Prospective ECG-gated 320 row detector computed tomography: implications for CT angiography and perfusion imaging

Cardiac multidetector computed tomography has evolved from early four detector systems that first demonstrated the feasibility of non-invasive angiography to today’s wide-area detector computed tomography systems, such as 320-row detector computed tomography. As detector arrays have widened, there have been great improvements in image quality that have improved test accuracy. In addition, wider detector arrays have allowed for the application of prospective ECG-gating for CT angiography, although the current 64-row detector systems have some limitations. 320-row detector computed tomography with full cardiac coverage allows for cardiac imaging in a single heart beat. This technology has realized some of the great advantages provided by full cardiac coverage in regards to image quality (elimination of step artifacts and variation in contrast enhancement), patient safety (reductions in overall radiation and contrast dose), and the prospects for combined CT angiography and myocardial perfusion imaging are very promising. We will review the technical aspects of 320-row detector computed tomography and their implications for coronary angiography and perfusion imaging.     

Pros and cons of healthcare information technology implementation: the pros win

Countless studies and investigations have been performed siding either for or against the implementation of technology in the healthcare setting. This article presents both sides of this debate, with an obvious conclusion that the pros of this debate win. The practice of information technology in the medical domain lags behind its knowledge and discovery by at least 7 years. The key to closing this gap is to show, through various studies, how information technology systems provide decision support to users at the point in time when decisions are needed. What the reader will obtain from this article is that the pros for information technology implementation in healthcare settings weigh much more and have a greater effect than the cons.     

冠状动脉64排螺旋CT成像中前瞻性与回顾性心电门控比较

目的 比较64排螺旋CT前瞻性心电门控(prospective ECG-gating)技术与回顾性心电门控(retrospective ECG-gating)技术进行冠状动脉CTA(CCTA)检查的扫描时间、血管可评估率、图像质量及辐射剂量.方法 133例疑似冠状动脉疾病的患者,分为两组:①实验组68例:采用前瞻性心电门控技术成像;②对照组65例:采用回顾性心电门控技术成像.计算扫描时间、各段冠状动脉可评估率,同时进行图像质量评价,记录辐射剂量并进行统计学分析.结果 平均扫描时间实验组为7.12 s,对照组为9.43 s;血管可评估率实验组为94.93%,对照组为94.46%;平均有效辐射剂量实验组(3.69 mSv)比对照组(15.86 mSv)降低77%;两组各段冠状动脉图像质量比较差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 在64排螺旋CT冠状动脉成像中,与回顾性心电门控技术相比,前瞻性心电门控技术在保证血管可评估率及图像质量的前提下可降低77%的辐射剂量.     

比较两种心电后门控儿童冠状动脉CT扫描方案

目的 比较采用心电后门控两种不同扫描方案对儿童进行冠状动脉CT成像（CCTA）的图像质量和辐射剂量。方法 收集32例接受CCTA的患儿,按就诊顺序分为A、B两组,各16例。A组采用心电调节管电流方案进行扫描,R-R间期40%~80%期相管电流设为350mAs,其他期相管电流设为70mAs;B组采用个体化调节管电流方案进行扫描,即根据患儿定位像上特定区域CT值确定管电流。比较两种扫描方案所获得的图像质量、剂量长度乘积（DLP）及有效剂量（ED）。结果 两名放射科医师对A组图像质量的评分分别为（3.45±0.61）分和（3.32±0.73）分,对B组图像质量的评分分别为（3.51±0.50）分和（3.42±0.52）分,两组间差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）;A、B两组图像SD值分别为（25.03±4.81）HU和（25.85±1.24）HU,差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。A组DLP·cm]明显高于B组·cm,P<0.05],A组ED与B组比较差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。结论 对儿童行心电后门控CCTA时,采用个体化调节管电流方案可在保证图像质量的同时有效降低辐射剂量,具有重要临床应用价值。     

Pros and cons of using paid feeding assistants in nursing homes

Recently the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), citing increasing resident acuity, staffing shortages, and high turnover rates that make it difficult for nursing homes to provide adequate feeding assistance to residents who need minimal help at mealtimes, began allowing nursing facilities to use single-task workers to provide assistance during mealtimes. This article describes the use of single-task workers to provide feeding assistance to nutritionally at-risk residents during a 6-month clinical study designed to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of implementing a buffet-dining program in an academic long-term care facility.