Purpose
Many patients with severe aortic stenosis and multiple co-morbidities are not suitable candidates for surgical replacement of the aortic valve. Transcatheter aortic-valve implantation (TAVI) is a new procedure, in which a bioprosthetic valve is inserted through a catheter and implanted within the diseased native aortic valve. Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) has become the standard non-invasive imaging method for accurate preliminary aortic annulus sizing and aorto-iliac artery evaluation for TAVI procedure planning. The main limitations of CTA in elderly patients with high-BMI is the large amount...
Methods and materials
Patient Population
Between July 2019 and October 2019, 39 consecutive TAVI candidates underwent investigation with CTA using a 64-slice CT scanner. 10 obese patients (25,6 %) with BMI >29 kg/m2 scheduled for TAVI were prospectively enrolled.Gender, age (years), BMI (kg/m2), heart rate during CTA (bpm), and serum creatinine (SCr) in mg/dL before and after CTA were recorded. Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) before and after CTA was also calculated using the EPI-CKD formula.
CTA acquisition
All CTA examinations were performed using a 64-slice CT system...
Results
Baseline characteristics, CTA acquisition and Radiation Dose values are listed in Table 2.
Renal function values are summarized in Table 3.
Example of Volume Rendering of Aorta is showed in Figure 2.
CTA data analysis
Objective analysis:
Vessel attenuation (HU) and CNR means are graphically summarized in Figure 3 and Figure 4 respectively. Furthermore, results of vessel attenuation (HU), standard deviation of vessel (SD), Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) and Contrast-to-Noise Ratio (CNR) at AoR, Arch, DA, ABAO, IRA, RCFA and LCFA levels are showed in Table...
Conclusion
Data from our study suggest that in obese patients (BMI > 29 kg/m2) it is possible to image the aortic annulus and aorto-iliac anatomy with high image quality using a low volume, multiphasic injection protocol (65 ml), as opposed to the protocol that is usually quoted in the literature for all patients (90 mL).
In the available literature, more papers describe the feasibility of transcatheter aortic valve replacement planning with a single reduced contrast media bolus injection of 40 or 70 mL using 320-row CT5or...
Personal information and conflict of interest
G. S. Gallo; Palermo/IT - nothing to disclose R. Gerasia; Palermo/IT - nothing to disclose C. Tafaro; Palermo/IT - nothing to disclose C. Cannataci; Msida/MT - nothing to disclose G. Gentile; Palermo/IT - nothing to disclose G. Mamone; Palermo/IT - nothing to disclose R. Miraglia; Palermo/IT - nothing to disclose C. Caruso; Palermo/IT - nothing to disclose
References
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3Jilaihawi H, Kashif M, Fontana G, Furugen A, Shiota T, Friede G, Makhija R, Doctor N, Leon...