Role of Computerized Tomography in Evaluation of Coronary Bypass Grafts—Special Reference to Women

Sujata Patnaik; Sri Rama Murty; Amaresh Rao; Susarla Rammurti

doi:10.1055/s-0040-1708574

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Review Article

5 (

); 57-64

doi:

10.1055/s-0040-1708574

Role of Computerized Tomography in Evaluation of Coronary Bypass Grafts—Special Reference to Women

Sujata Patnaik¹, Sri Rama Murty¹, Amaresh Rao², Susarla Rammurti¹

1Department of Radiology and Imageology, Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences, Punjaguta, Hyderabad, India

2Department of CT Surgery, Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences, Punjaguta, Hyderabad, India

Address for correspondence Sujata Patnaik, MD Department of Radiology and Imageology, Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences Punjaguta, Hyderabad 500082 India sujata_patnaik222@yahoo.co.in

Epub ahead of print: 2020-03-18, Published: 2020-04

Indian Journal of Cardiovascular Disease in Women

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This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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This article was originally published by Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Private Ltd. and was migrated to Scientific Scholar after the change of Publisher.

Abstract

Computerized tomography-coronary angiography (CT-CAG) is gaining popularity as an alternative to conventional CAG to evaluate grafts in a post-coronary artery bypass graft (post-CABG) patient, since it is a noninvasive procedure and is less influenced by cardiac motion. The primary challenge is to image a rapidly beating heart. With introduction of 64-slice scanner, the coronary imaging became a possibility with acceptable accuracy. In recent years, with the development of 128,256 and 320 multislice CT scanners, further enhancement in the temporal and spatial resolution is achieved due to lesser influence of the respiratory and cardiac motion, enhancing the accuracy of the lesion assessment in the grafts and the native vessels. Achieving low heart rate and artifact-free image acquisition, proper reconstruction, and image interpretation are challenges to the radiologists and the technicians involved in coronary imaging. Women pose special subset because of smaller sized coronary vessels, interference due to breast shadows, low-referrals, and gender-specific reluctance to accept the procedure itself. Cardiologists and radiologists caring for these patients must be familiar with the pros and cons of CT-CAG and gender-specific challenges.

Keywords

CT-coronary angiography

coronary-bypass graft

arterial graft

venous graft

graft failure

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Introduction

Computerized tomography-coronary angiography (CT-CAG) is an emerging imaging tool to rule out significant stenosis in suspected cases of coronary artery disease (CAD). Conventional CAG for graft assessment is considered the gold-standard; however, it is not acceptable to most of the patients due to its invasive nature, more so because the femoral route has to be used. Though rare, the conventional coronary angiograms have potential complications like stroke, dissection, infarction, and arrhythmia. CT-CAG is gaining popularity as an alternative, since it is a noninvasive procedure and is less influenced by cardiac motion especially due to introduction of new generation of CT scanners. CT-CAG is mainly indicated for diagnosis of intermediate-low probability CAD and to evaluate in-stent or coronary-bypass graft disease or when vasculitis or aneurysm is suspected. The need for assessment of the coronary bypass grafts arises when there is recurrence of angina or when inducible ischemia is demonstrated.

Types of Grafts

Based on the source of the conduits, the grafts are either arterial or venous. Great saphenous vein is the most commonly used vessel for the grafts. Harvested saphenous veins are used as venous conduits from ascending aorta (usually anterior aspect) to the coronary artery beyond the obstructive lesion (right coronary artery [RCA], posterior descending coronary artery [PDA], left anterior descending artery [LAD], left circumflex coronary artery [LCx], and obtuse marginal [OM]). Generally, an accepted sequence [right side from above downward as saphenous vein graft (SVG) to RCA/PDA and on left they are LCx, OM, LAD from above downward] is followed by most surgeons to avoid cross over and kinking.1 Though it is technically easier to perform SVG, they are more prone to degeneration and occlusion. As venous grafts are less pulsatile, wider in diameter (approximately 4–10 mm vs. 2–5 mm of the native arteries), and less prone to calcification, they are better suited for study using CT-CAG. Arterial grafts are taken from left or right internal mammary arteries (LIMA or RIMA), free radial artery, inferior epigastric, or gastroepiploic arteries. Depending on the technique of placing them they are described as sequential grafts, jump-grafts, y-grafts, or T-grafts (Figs. 1 2 3 4). Arterial grafts have better adaptability to high systemic pressure and shear stress. The patency rate of arterial grafts is approximately 96.5% at 15 years whereas venous grafts have an attrition rate of 2 to 5% per year.2 3 The 10-year patency is as high as 88%. The patency of arterial grafts also depends on the status of native vessels. If size of native vessel is more than 2 mm and the stenosis is more than 50% the results will be favorable.4

Key Issues in Coronary Imaging

The primary challenge is to image a rapidly beating heart. Hence the scanner should have high temporal resolution. That is made possible by introduction of newer generation CT scanners in the recent years. The 64-slice CT scanner has temporal resolution up to 83 milliseconds and spatial resolution up to 0.4 × 0.4 × 0.4 mm³.5 In recent years, with the introduction of 128,256 and 320 multislice CT further improvement in the temporal and spatial resolution is achieved with lesser respiratory and cardiac motion, which greatly enhanced the precision of the lesion assessment in the grafts and the native vessels.6 7

The most quiescent part of cardiac cycle is the diastolic phase and image acquisition is best performed in this phase. As heart rate increases the diastolic phase reduces. At heart rates below 65 beats/min imaging can be best performed. Diameter of coronary segments varies from millimeter to submillimeter. Hence, scanner should have the thinnest slice thickness to obtain isotropic images. In other words, the scanners with 64 slices onward are best suitable for coronary imaging. Overall, CT-CAG using 64 slices CT scanner was proven to have superior sensitivity and specificity compared with invasive conventional CAG in coronary bypass graft stenosis or occlusion evaluation. Earlier venous graft disease detection and evaluation of extracardiac anatomical features are additional advantages of CT-CAG.8

Limitations of CT-CAG

Gross obesity and irregular cardiac rhythm are important limitations to CT-CAG. Patients with many metallic clips and those with estimated glomerular filtration rate, 30 mL/min are also challenging subsets. As the CT-CAG is a nondynamic study, competitive flow and vasospasm in arterial grafts may be difficult. Evaluation of native vessels and any flow-limiting stenosis in them may be more difficult on CT-CAG (compared with the grafts).9

Technical Aspects

The study of grafts by CT-CAG requires a larger scanning range (up to 22 cm) and hence a longer breath holding. Recent scanners have faster gantry rotation, wide field of scan at a higher X-ray tube potential but at a lower patient radiation dose and better images. Scan range must be extended from supraclavicular fossa to base of heart/diaphragm so that the origin of internal mammary artery can be visualized. Breath holding is longer (approximately 15 s) than usual chest imaging. Heart rate should be brought below 65 beats/min by use of β-blockers or ivabradine. The reconstructions like volume rendering technique (VRT), multiplanar reformations (MPRs), cMPR, and maximum intensity projection (MIP) have to be made for analysis. Special care has to be taken for patients with stents or heavy calcification of coronaries. History of pregnancy and contrast allergy is to be obtained before performing the scan. Medications like sildenafil and metformin have to be stopped on the day of examination. Four-hour fasting is to be ensured but dehydration has to be avoided. Patient should abstain from caffeine 12 h before on the day of examination. Just before starting the scan nitroglycerine can be administered to dilate coronaries. IV contrast is injected by bolus tracking. The recommended dose (64 slice CT with dual head injector) is contrast agent containing 270 to 400 mg iodine/mL at the rate of 5 to 7 mL contrast/s; total up to 120 mL was administered followed by saline chaser. Radiation dose is approximately 8 to 22 mSV in retrospective echocardiographic gating and much lesser in prospective gating.10

Imaging Interpretation

Axial, sagittal, coronal views are to be critically viewed. Systemic approach was to be adopted to evaluate the chest wall for metallic clips, sternal dehiscence, and osteomyelitis. Comprehensive graft evaluation along with the native coronaries has to be performed by three-dimensional VRT and all other reconstructions like MPRs and curved-MPR. The stenoses are assessed by scrolling through the axial images with or without MIP. When there is homogenous enhancement with smooth walls the graft is said to be patent. It may not be possible to see the distal anastomosis in all situations; however, continuous contrast column in the graft can be taken to indicate a patent graft. Distal native vessel-runoff is also to be assessed in all cases (Figs. 4 5 6). All radiologists involved in CT-CAG should be aware of certain artifacts that are occasionally encountered due to patient, procedure, and reconstruction-related factors. By appropriate patient counseling, modification of technique, and machine parameters these can be reduced or avoided.11 12

Graft Failure

Stenosis or occlusion is assessed by calculating diameter stenosis. Plaques (calcified, noncalcified plaques, mixed plaques) can also be assessed. Nonvisualization of graft indicates occlusion. Ghost or Nubbin sign is small contrast filled out pouch at the graft site (Fig. 4). It indicates total occlusion of the proximal site. Graft failure is said to present if there is narrowing more than 75% or total occlusion and not visualized. Graft failure in first few weeks is due to either technical errors or due to thrombus. Graft malfunction can also manifest in the form of twist, kink, stretching, or shortening. Graft spasm may mimic narrowing. Free radial artery grafts are more prone to spasm. Spasm occurs more common in early postoperative period (within 1 month). Here the proximal segment is narrowed as compared with distal segment whereas in graft occlusion the distal segment appears narrower than proximal segment. Within 1-year, intimal hyperplasia and thrombosis are common causes of occlusion. After 1 year, the neointimal atherosclerosis is the predominant cause of graft failure, whereas after 5 years degeneration and chronic thrombosis account for 40 to 60% graft failure.13 14 15

Role in Special Situations

For planning for re-do-CABG, CT-CAG has an additional value in providing the mediastinal anatomy. The number, position, the course of grafts as well as distance of LIMA to sternum are important points to be assessed before redo surgery and are best evaluated using the CT-CAG compared with the conventional CAG. It is also an invaluable tool for minimally invasive CABG, off-pump CABG, and for evaluating before all arterial bypass grafts.18

Our Experience in NIMS

At NIMS (Nizam's Institute Of Medical Sciences), we had performed 52 CT-CAGs since January, 2018. All our cases come for evaluation from Cardiology/Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery departments when the doctor treating the case feels it is needed. Surprisingly, of the 52 studied cases there were only 8 females (15.4%). The mean ages of the whole group, males and females were 62.9, 63.1, and 61.5 years, respectively.

Women-Specific Issues

CAD is the number one killer both in women and men. There are a few gender-specific differences in the presentation and prognosis of this disease. Females are supposed to have relative protection from obstructive CAD in their premenopausal phase but when affected, the angina and the mortality due to CAD is higher in them. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) data suggest that 1-year mortality after myocardial infarction is 19% in men versus 26% in women and after 5 years the respective figures are 36 and 47%, respectively.19 This paradox is attributed to a different path physiology, nonstandardized risk-estimation tools, difference in performing the evaluation, and acceptance of surgery as an option, and difficulties in imaging due to higher prevalence of obesity and breast shadow (Fig. 8).20 Women have smaller sized coronary arteries (Fig. 9), smaller left ventricular chamber dimensions, and greater chest wall attenuation due to breast tissue. These factors may increase the chance of nonevaluability of images obtained with coronary CT angiography.21 However, in an elaborate study coronary angiography in men and women had a sensitivity of 90 and 85% and a specificity of 89 and 78%, respectively which are quite comparable (Fig. 10).22 The number of women included at our center is surprisingly far below the expectation. It highlights the fact that underreporting of symptoms and underutilization of expensive investigations and therapies are quite common among our women. There is also a gender-bias in physician referral for CT-CAG.

Conclusion

Women with prior CABG comprise a very special population with unique imaging and diagnostic considerations. CT-angiography is recently proven as a competitive alternative to conventional CAG for bypass graft evaluation. Cardiologists and radiologists taking care of these patients must be familiar with the pros and cons and some basic facts about CT-CAG. They should also realize gender-specific challenges to use this wonderful diagnostic tool more widely and appropriately in the women after CABG.

Conflict of Interest

None declared.

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