Purpose
To evaluate whether there is a change in heart rate that prevents or reduces the quality of coronary CT angiography (CCTA) examination during rapid intravenous administration of non- ionic iodine contrast.
Methods and Materials
In the period of 11 months CCTA was performed in 26 ambulatory scheduled patients,
withno recent coronary artery diagnostic evaluation.
Exams were performed on the SiemensSomatom 64Slice Cardiac CT,
with simultaneous application of 80ml non-ionic iodine contrast and 40ml of NaCl.
Changes in heart rate were monitored on CT monitoring screen after completing the application of contrast until the end of acquisition.
Results
All patients had cardiovascular risk factors-myocardial infarction(2),
coronary surgery(4),
HTA(8),
pectoral angina(7),
heart feliure(3),
arrhythmia(2).
Average age was 64,9 years (51-75) and 15/26 were males.
3/26 (11%) patients had heart rate change during the application of non-ionic iodine contrast; at one casepost processing was not possible due to absolute arrhythmia and artifacts,
one patient had serious frequency oscilations (38 to 179 heart beats per minute) insignificant for post processing,
because during the acquisition pulse frequency was normal,
and one patient had transitient pulse oscilations (20-30...
Conclusion
Eaven CCTA is used as an alternative to classical catheter angiography to clarify coronary anatomy and to determine whether a vessel is occluded,
prior selection of the patients should be considered,
in oreder to ovaid significant heart rate oscilationsin high risk patients.
In that casepremedication oralternativeor non-iodinated contrast sholudbe considered and used as an alternative.