Ultrafast computed tomography in assessing coronary bypass grafts

The evaluation of chest pain in the postoperative coronary artery bypass graft patient is an important part of the cardiologist's and cardiothoracic surgeon's practice. Ultrafast computed tomography, by virtue of its speed and 0.75- to 1.5-mm spatial resolution, can detect graft patency with sensitivities of 93% to 96% and specificities of 86% to 100% in 94.2% of patients studied. Although image resolution is insufficient to demonstrate graft stenosis or sequential anastomoses, ultrafast computed tomography is becoming an increasingly important, minimally invasive imaging modality for the evaluation of coronary artery bypass graft patency.