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DOI: 10.1148/radiol.2293020856
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(Radiology 2003;229:749-756.)
© RSNA, 2003


Cardiac Imaging

Evaluation of Patients after Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: CT Angiographic Assessment of Grafts and Coronary Arteries1

Koen Nieman, MD, Peter M. T. Pattynama, MD, PhD, Benno J. Rensing, MD, PhD, Robert-Jan M. van Geuns, MD, PhD and Pim J. de Feyter, MD, PhD

1 From the Department of Radiology (K.N., P.M.T.P., P.J.d.F.) and Thoraxcenter, Department of Cardiology (K.N., B.J.R., R.J.M.v.G.), Erasmus Medical Center, Dr Molewaterplein 40, Room D 220, Rotterdam 3015 GD, the Netherlands. Received July 21, 2002; revision requested September 26; final revision received March 24, 2003; accepted April 16. Address correspondence to K.N. (e-mail: koennieman@hotmail.com).


    ABSTRACT
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
PURPOSE: To evaluate the accuracy of electrocardiography (ECG)-gated multi–detector row computed tomography (CT) in enabling the detection of obstruction of both bypass grafts and coronary arteries in symptomatic patients who have undergone coronary artery bypass grafting.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: ECG-gated contrast material–enhanced multi–detector row CT angiography was performed in 24 patients after bypass surgery. Two independent blinded observers evaluated all graft and coronary segments (>=2.0-mm diameter) for occlusion and stenosis (50%–99% luminal reduction). Conventional angiography was regarded as the standard of reference. Descriptive parameters were calculated, and the results for arterial grafts, venous grafts, and coronary arteries, as well as for high and low heart rates, were compared by using a two-sided Fisher exact test.

RESULTS: The following results were obtained by observers 1 and 2, respectively: Of the 60 venous graft segments, 60 (100%) and 57 (95.0%) were assessable, with an overall detection of all 17 occlusions (both observers) and three (50.0%) and five (83.3%) of six stenoses. Of 26 arterial graft segments, 19 (73.1%) and 15 (57.7%) were assessable. In the assessable segments, four of four (100%) and two of three (66.7%) stenoses and occlusions were detected, while one and two obstructions were located in nonassessable segments. Of 211 coronary segments, 146 (69.2%) and 140 (66.4%) were assessable, and detection of 50%–100% obstruction yielded a sensitivity of 89.9% (71 of 79) and 79.4% (54 of 68) and a specificity of 74.6% (50 of 67) and 72.2% (52 of 72) for each observer. Unlike the assessment of venous and arterial grafts, assessment of the coronary arteries with multi–detector row CT was significantly better in patients with low heart rates (P < .01).

CONCLUSION: Multi–detector row CT allows noninvasive angiographic evaluation of both coronary arteries and bypass grafts in patients who have undergone bypass surgery. Multi–detector row CT is more effective in examining venous grafts compared with arterial grafts and diffusely diseased coronary arteries.

© RSNA, 2003

Index terms: Computed tomography (CT), angiography • Coronary angiography, 54.1244 • Coronary vessels, bypass graft, 54.455 • Coronary vessels, diseases, 54.76 • Coronary vessels, stenosis or obstruction, 54.76


    INTRODUCTION
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
An estimated 571,000 coronary vessel bypass operations were performed in the United States in 1999. Angina recurred within 1 year in 24% of these patients and within 6 years in more than 40% (1). A total of 25% of grafts are found to be occluded within 5 years after surgery (2). Symptoms recur because of the progression of disease in the coronary arteries and de novo disease in venous bypass grafts, whereas arterial grafts generally remain free of disease. Results of earlier studies have demonstrated that noninvasive techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography (CT) can demonstrate the patency of grafts. However, a clinically useful imaging technique should be able to demonstrate not only graft disease but also the progression of disease in the coronaryarteries. Thus, the purpose of our study was to evaluate the accuracy of electrocardiography (ECG)–gated multi–detector row CT in the detection of obstructed bypass grafts and coronary arteries in symptomatic patients after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).


    MATERIALS AND METHODS
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
Population
Twenty-four patients who were referred to our institution for conventional angiographic evaluation because of recurrent symptoms after undergoing CABG were included in the study. Among these 24 patients, seven had only venous grafts, four had only arterial grafts, and 13 had both venous and arterial grafts. Of the 23 venous grafts, 17 had two or more sequential anastomoses. Of the 17 arterial grafts, four had two or more sequential anastomoses. One patient had a right-to-left internal mammary artery (IMA) T-graft with five distal anastomoses. Further patient characteristics are summarized in Table 1. Patients with irregular heart rates, allergies to iodine-containing contrast media, renal failure (serum creatinine level, >100 µmol/L), or substantial respiratory or cardiac failure were excluded. The interval between the multi–detector row CT examination and the surgical procedure was 9.6 years ± 5.2 (± SD). Two patients underwent repeat (second) CABG procedures. The median interval between the respective angiographic procedures was 11 days. The study was approved by our institutional ethical committee, and informed consent was obtained from all patients.


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TABLE 1. Characteristics among 24 Patients after CABG Procedure

 
CT Data Acquisition and Image Reconstruction
The patients were examined by using a multi–detector row CT scanner that acquires four channels of data at an x-ray tube rotation time of 500 msec (Somatom Plus 4 VolumeZoom; Siemens Medical Systems, Forchheim, Germany) (3). After attachment of the leads for ECG recording, patients were examined while in a supine position by using a breath-hold technique. To facilitate the relatively long breath hold (35–45 seconds), a short session of instructed hyperventilation was performed prior to scanning. First, a fast localization CT scan was obtained to determine the scanning range and identify the metal indicators at the site of the proximal venous graft anastomosis. The scanning range included the entire course of the venous graft, but not the most proximal part of the IMA grafts, in order to maintain a manageable breath-hold period. A fixed delay of 20 seconds was applied between the intravenous injection of contrast medium (iomeprol, Iomeron 350 [350 mg of iodine per milliliter]; Bracco-Byk Gulden, Konstanz, Germany) and the onset of the data acquisition. The radiation exposure depended on the individual scanning parameters and varied between 5 and 10 mSv. The average heart rate was 63.7 beats per minute ± 10.2, and no additional ß-receptor blocking medication was administered prior to the examination. Further scanning parameters are summarized in Table 2.


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TABLE 2. Multi-Detector Row CT Scanning Parameters

 
The details of ECG-gated image reconstruction have been described previously (4). In summary, isocardiophasic transverse sections are reconstructed from multi–detector row CT data that are acquired during a 180° x-ray tube rotation by using a partial scanning reconstruction algorithm. At a rotation time of 500 msec, the length of the image reconstruction window (IRW) is 250 msec. At heart rates beyond 65 beats per minute, a potential reduction of the effective IRW to 125 msec is achieved by combining data from consecutive RR intervals, provided that the table speed is sufficiently low enough to sample each position on the longitudinal axis at least twice (4). Since data are acquired continuously, images can be reconstructed at any time point within the cardiac cycle. To obtain nearly motion-free results, the IRW is positioned within the mid-to-late diastolic phase. Initially, three data sets with IRWs starting at 300, 400, and 500 msec before the following R wave were compared. If none of these showed adequate image quality, alternative IRW positions were explored. At low heart rates the most optimal IRW position was 400 msec, while at high heart rates 350 or 300 msec before the next R wave yielded the best results. The transverse CT sections, with an effective section thickness of 1.25 mm, were reconstructed at an overlapping interval of 0.5 mm, by which the intersection correlation is improved. The average heart rate during scanning was calculated from the recorded ECG trace.

All CT examinations were performed without complications. Each examination, including patient preparation and image reconstruction, generally required 10–30 minutes.

Image Processing and Data Analysis
A stack of approximately 250 overlapping transverse CT sections were further processed and analyzed on two separate workstations (O2 and Indigo 2; Silicon Graphics, Mountain View, Calif) with case-dependent application of post-processing techniques (Vitrea and VoxelView; Vital Images, Plymouth, Minn). Thin-slab maximum intensity projections allowed assessment of extended lengths of the vessels at once. In the presence of calcium or metal, the use of maximum intensity projection resulted in assessment-limiting overprojection, in which case double-oblique multiplanar reconstructions were then more suitable. Volume-rendered reconstructions were used for three-dimensional orientation and global presentation of results. Findings were then confirmed on the transverse CT source images.

All coronary artery segments (according to American Heart Association–American College of Cardiology guidelines) and bypass graft segments (consecutive graft anastomoses were regarded as separate segments) were independently evaluated by two investigators (K.N., P.M.T.P.) who were aware of the initial CABG procedure but were blinded toward the angiographic results (5). Each coronary or graft segment was classified as either interpretable or not interpretable according to the image quality. The venous graft segments were first screened for the presence of totally occluded segments. In the remaining segments, which were those that were considered patent by each observer, the image quality was then reevaluated, and interpretable segments were screened for the presence of stenotic lesions: luminal narrowing of 50%–99% of the luminal diameter. The arterial grafts were similarly assessed, but because of their relatively small diameter, no distinction was made between total occlusion and 50%–99% narrowing.

Only coronary segments with a minimal reference diameter of 2.0 mm were included for analysis; this assessment was made on the basis of conventional quantitative coronary angiographic findings. The presence or absence of calcium was noted for each coronary segment (K.N.). After evaluation of the interpretability of the multi–detector row CT data, all assessable segments were screened for the presence of substantial stenosis, including total occlusion (K.N., P.M.T.P.).

Conventional Coronary Angiography
Arterial catheterization and selective conventional angiography of the coronary arteries and bypass grafts were performed according to standard techniques. Quantitative coronary angiography, which involves catheter-derived image calibration and automated vessel contour detection, was performed of two orthogonal projections of the coronary arteries (CAAS software; Pie Medical, Maastricht, the Netherlands) to identify segments larger than 2.0 mm in diameter. An experienced interventional cardiologist (P.J.d.F.; >=15 years experience) screened the angiographic images for stenotic lesions (50%–99% diameter reduction) or occlusions in the bypass grafts and coronary arteries. The diameter stenosis was determined by averaging the luminal narrowing from two orthogonal projections.

Statistical Analysis
The descriptive statistics were stratified for coronary artery segments, venous bypass graft segments, and arterial graft segments. Each graft, and each consecutive anastomosis in cases of sequential grafts, was regarded as a separate graft segment. Conventional quantitative coronary angiography was regarded as the standard of reference. The diagnostic parameters in patients with a low (<65 beats per minute) or high (>=65 beats per minute) average heart rate during the data acquisition were compared on the basis of the results of observer 1 (K.N.). Continuous variables were expressed as means and SDs. The diagnostic results from each of two observers in the detection of lesions in the assessable segments were expressed as sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value. In addition, the overall sensitivity, which regards lesions in noninterpretable segments as false-negative assessments, was also calculated. Concordance between observers for the detection of obstructive lesions was calculated and expressed by using the {kappa} value. Precision of the diagnostic parameters and interobserver variability were expressed by using a 95% CI. In addition, an overall evaluation of each complete arterial or venous graft was performed, in which the most severe lesion or the most proximally affected segment determined the accuracy of the observation. Results between arterial grafts, venous grafts, and coronary arteries were compared by using a two-sided Fisher exact test. The diagnostic performance of multi–detector row CT in depicting obstructive disease was compared between patients with high (<65 beats per minute) and low (>=65 beats per minute) heart rates; this comparison was performed with a two-sided Fisher exact test.


    RESULTS
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
Venous Bypass Grafts
Among the 60 venous segments, patency could be assessed in 60 (100%) and 57 (95.0%) segments by observers 1 and 2, respectively, and both observers detected all 17 occlusions (100%). Specificity was 97.7% (42 of 43) for observer 1 and 97.5% (39 of 40) for observer 2, positive predictive value was 94.4% (17 of 18) for both observers, and negative predictive value was 100% for both observers (observer 1, 42 of 42; observer 2, 39 of 39) (Table 3, Figs 14).


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TABLE 3. Diagnostic Accuracy of Multi-Detector Row CT Angiography for Detection of Venous Graft Disease

 


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Figure 1. Arterial and venous bypass grafts. Images obtained with contrast-enhanced multi-detector row CT angiography (A, E-I, maximum intensity projections; D, three-dimensional volume rendering) and corresponding conventional angiography (B, C) show a left IMA graft (LIMA) connected to the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). Additionally, a venous graft (SVG) runs from the aorta to the diagonal branch (D1), with consecutive jumps to the posterolateral branch (RPL) and posterior descending coronary artery (PDA). Surgical clips (arrowheads) and a bypass indicator (arrow in D, E) appear as bright structures. GCV = great cardiac vein, RCA = right coronary artery. Arrows in I indicate location of labeled right coronary and posterior descending coronary arteries.

 


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Figure 2. Venous graft disease. Images obtained with contrast-enhanced multi-detector row CT angiography (A, three-dimensional volume rendering; B, curved multiplanar reconstruction) and corresponding conventional angiography (C, D) show an arterial and venous bypass graft. The nondiseased left IMA graft (LIMA) is anastomosed to the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). A venous graft (SVG) originates from the aorta and is anastomosed to the second diagonal branch (D2). The graft segment between the second and first diagonal branch (D1) shows a substantial stenosis (arrow). Distal to the first diagonal branch the venous graft is completely occluded (arrowhead), which is confirmed with conventional angiography (D, 20° left anterior oblique, 30° caudal angulation).

 


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Figure 3. Venous graft and coronary artery disease. Images obtained with conventional angiography (A, 90° left anterior oblique; B, 30° right anterior oblique; C, 30° right anterior oblique; D, 60° left anterior oblique; E, 0° left anterior oblique and 30° cranial angulation) and contrast-enhanced multi-detector row CT angiography (F, G, three-dimensional volume rendering; H, maximum intensity projection) show a substantial lesion (curved arrow) detected at the proximal anastomosis of the venous graft (SVG) near the aorta, as well as two low-grade lesions (arrowheads) further down the first segment. Located after a nonstenosed second segment, between the second diagonal branch (D2) and the marginal branch (RM), the final segment between the marginal branch and the posteriolateral branch was found to be occluded (thick white arrow in B, bottom of G). Assessment of the native coronary system revealed occlusions in both the proximal right coronary artery (RCA) (thin white arrow) and the left circumflex coronary artery (LCX) (thin black arrow). The left main coronary artery is borderline substantially stenosed (thick white arrow in C, top of G, H), and an additional lesion is seen in the distal left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) (thick black arrow). The middle segment of the left anterior descending coronary artery was considered nonassessable due to extensive calcium deposits. D1 = first diagonal branch, RVOT = right ventricular outflow tract, IM = intermediate branch.

 


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Figure 4. Repeat CABG. Images obtained with conventional angiography (A, 45° left anterior oblique with cranial angulation and injection of contrast agent in left main coronary artery; B, 30° right anterior oblique with caudal angulation and injection of contrast agent in left main coronary artery; C, 90° left anterior oblique with injection of contrast agent in right coronary artery) and contrast-enhanced multi-detector row CT (D, three-dimensional volume rendering; E-G, maximum intensity projection; H, curved multiplanar reconstruction) after a complex repeat CABG procedure. The initial bypass procedure consisted of grafting a left IMA graft (LIMA) via the diagonal branch (D1) to the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD); the last segment of the graft was occluded. Selective angiography of the left IMA graft could not be performed. The proximal segment of the sequential venous graft (V1) to the distal right coronary artery (RCA) and marginal branch (RM1) was occluded, leaving only the conduit between the RCA and the RM1 patent. One year after the initial procedure, an additional venous graft (V2) was placed from the aorta to the LAD, the remaining segment of the first venous graft segment between the RM1 and the RCA (VV), and finally a marginal side branch (RM2). Within 1 year, the patient returned with complaints of angina, and occlusion of the first segment of V2 between the aorta and the LAD was detected. The metal artifacts (arrowheads, D) caused by the metal indicators at the aortic root reveal the original proximal anastomoses of the occluded grafts. Arrows indicate locations of labeled vessels. RM = marginal branch, CX = circumflex coronary artery, RVOT = right ventricular outflow tract, GCV = great cardiac vein.

 
Among the segments that were considered patent, observer 1 could assess 38 (90.5%) of 42 for the presence of noncomplete stenoses (50%–99% diameter reduction) and correctly detected three of five stenoses (60.0%). One additional stenosis was situated in a nonassessable segment and therefore remained undetected. The specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 87.9% (29 of 33), 42.9% (three of seven), and 93.5% (29 of 31), respectively. Observer 2 could assess 37 (94.9%) of the 39 apparently patent segments and detected five of six stenoses (83.3%). The specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 90.3% (28 of 31), 62.5% (five of eight), and 96.6% (28 of 29), respectively. Interobserver variability with respect to the detection of venous graft disease was good: {kappa} = 0.74 (95% CI: 0.52, 0.96). It was particularly good with respect to occlusions: {kappa} = 0.91 (95% CI: 0.63, 1.00).

In the evaluation of complete grafts, segments that were regarded as nonassessable for the detection of noncomplete stenosis were present in three of 23 venous grafts (for both observers). Total occlusion or noncomplete stenosis was correctly detected by observer 2 in 14 (93.3%) of 15 affected grafts. Observer 1 missed two stenoses, of which one was located in a segment regarded as nonassessable (sensitivity, 87.5%). A false-positive observation occurred once for each observer, and all other nondiseased grafts were correctly evaluated (specificity, 100%).

Arterial Bypass Grafts
Observer 1 assessed 19 (73.1%) of the 26 arterial graft segments and detected all four occlusions (100%) in the assessable segments; one noncomplete stenosis in a nonassessable segment was missed. Specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 93.3% (14 of 15), 80.0% (four of five), and 100% (14 of 14), respectively (Table 4).


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TABLE 4. Diagnostic Accuracy of Multi-Detector Row CT Angiography for Detection of 50%-100% Arterial Obstruction

 
Observer 2 found 15 (57.7%) of the 26 arterial segments assessable and correctly detected one occlusion and the only stenosis (66.7%) but missed three occlusions, of which two were in nonassessable segments. Specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 83.3% (10 of 12), 50.0% (two of two), and 90.9% (10 of 11), respectively.

In the evaluation of complete grafts, observers 1 and 2 regarded one or more segments as unsuitable for analysis in five of 18 and in six of 18 arterial grafts, respectively. Observer 1 correctly detected the three grafts with occlusions (75.0%) but missed a stenosed graft that was considered nonassessable. Observer 2 detected one stenosed and one completely occluded arterial graft (50.0%) but missed two occluded grafts, of which one was regarded as nonassessable. The specificity was 100% (11 of 11) and 80.0% (8 of 10) for observers 1 and 2, respectively, if grafts with nonassessable sections were excluded.

Coronary Arteries
On the basis of findings at conventional angiography, an average of 8.8 ± 1.7 coronary segments with a minimal diameter of 2.0 mm were available per patient. Observers 1 and 2 found 146 (69.2%) and 140 (66.4%) of 211 segments interpretable, respectively. In the assessable segments, substantial obstruction, which included complete occlusions, was detected by observers 1 and 2, respectively, with a sensitivity of 89.9% (71 of 79) and 79.4% (54 of 68); specificity of 74.6% (50 of 67) and 72.2% (52 of 72); positive predictive value of 80.7% (71 of 88) and 73.0% (54 of 74); and negative predictive value of 86.2% (50 of 58) and 78.8% (52 of 66) (Table 5, Fig 3). The interobserver variability was reasonably good: {kappa} = 0.68 (95% CI: 0.50, 0.86). Unfortunately, 23 (22.5%; observer 1) and 34 (33.3%; observer 2) of the 102 substantially obstructed segments were missed because of degraded image quality. Calcifications, which were the cause of many noninterpretable segments, were present in 142 (67.3%) of 211 coronary segments 2.0 mm or larger.


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TABLE 5. Diagnostic Accuracy of Multi-Detector Row CT Angiography for Detection of 50%-100% Coronary Artery Obstruction

 
For both observers, a significantly larger percentage of the venous grafts could be evaluated compared with the arterial grafts and coronary arteries (P < .001). The overall sensitivity for detecting 50% or more lesions showed a similar trend, but sensitivity only reached significance for observer 2 (P < .01) and not observer 1 (P = .26).

Influence of Heart Rate
Motion artifacts, caused by residual cardiac motion, were major contributors to the noninterpretability of multi–detector row CT images. In the group of patients with heart rates below 65 beats per minute, the coronary arteries were easier to interpret (P < .001) and showed a higher sensitivity (P < .01) compared with those in the group of patients with high heart rates. In the arterial grafts, there was a trend toward easier interpretability in the low heart rate group (P = .06). The venous grafts were easily assessable regardless of the heart rate (Table 6).


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TABLE 6. Influence of Heart Rate on Diagnostic Accuracy of Multi-Detector Row CT Angiography for Detection of Obstructive Disease

 

    DISCUSSION
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
Symptomatic patients who have undergone bypass surgery often pose a challenging diagnostic problem to the angiographer. The calcified, tortuous, and diffusely diseased coronary arteries and degenerated bypass grafts complicate precise delineation of the lesions. High-quality angiographic images and thorough knowledge of the coronary anatomy are required in order to adequately determine revascularization options. Performing this angiographic evaluation in a noninvasive fashion is even more challenging. Noninvasive imaging techniques are hampered by specific limitations.

Even though the CT scanning range was not extended to cover the entire course of the proximal IMA grafts, in which no obstructions were found with conventional angiography, the CT scanning still required a long breath hold that could not be performed by a number of patients. Voluntary and cardiac motion were the major causes for nonassessability and misinterpretation. Extensive calcification of the coronary arteries and degenerated grafts, as well as the vascular clips in the proximity of arterial grafts (Fig 1), are the cause of beam-hardening and partial-volume artifacts that hinder assessment by suggesting or obscuring the obstruction.

Despite these technical limitations, our study results showed that multi–detector row CT angiography allows very accurate assessment of graft patency and, in addition, it provides relevant information concerning the presence of substantial obstructive disease in the bypass grafts and progression of disease of the coronary arteries. The diagnostic accuracy exceeds that of conventional and single–detector row helical CT (6,7). Evaluation of grafts with electron-beam CT was initially performed with individual images and later with three-dimensional reconstructions, which had good sensitivity (80%–100%) and specificity (82%–100%) for enabling detection of graft occlusion (812). In cases of adequate image quality, Achenbach et al (11) were able to detect 50%–99% stenosis in patent grafts as well (sensitivity, 84%). In addition, electron-beam CT flow studies have been performed to determine graft patency (1315). Our study results confirm those of Ropers et al (16), who used multi–detector row CT to examine 182 grafts in 65 patients and reported a respective sensitivity and specificity of 97% and 98% in demonstrating graft occlusion and 75% and 92% in demonstrating substantial stenosis in grafts of adequate image quality (62%). In this study, however, the coronary arteries were not included in the evaluation.

Noninvasive follow-up of a patient who has undergone CABG cannot be restricted to visualization of the bypass grafts alone; it should include visualization of the coronary arteries. Results of a number of promising studies concerning the use of multi–detector row CT for noninvasive coronary angiography have been published. It appears that the diagnostic accuracy is reasonable, but complete assessment can be hindered by calcium deposits in the vessel wall and by motion artifacts, particularly in patients with high heart rates (1720). Assessment of the native vessels in patients who have undergone bypass surgery is more challenging compared with that in patients who have an earlier stage of atherosclerotic disease. Advanced atherosclerotic degeneration results in small, diffusely narrowed vessels with an abundant presence of calcifications in the arterial wall, which complicates proper assessment of the vessel lumen. The high number of obstructions and the presence of a bypass graft anastomosis are obviously suggestive of the presence of a stenotic lesion in the proximal part of a coronary artery; the moderate assessability is only partly reflected in the diagnostic results.

Image degradation due to residual cardiac motion occurs predominantly in patients with higher heart rates. In the near future, faster rotation of the x-ray tube will increase the temporal resolution of the CT scanner. Until substantially faster CT scanners become available, motion artifacts can be reduced by administration of ß-receptor blocking medication prior to scanning in order to reduce the heart rate. The introduction of submillimeter–detector rows is expected to improve the assessment of severely calcified coronary segments and small distal branches.


    FOOTNOTES
 
Abbreviations: CABG = coronary artery bypass grafting, ECG = electrocardiography, IMA = internal mammary artery, IRW = image reconstruction window

Author contributions: Guarantors of integrity of entire study, all authors; study concepts, K.N., P.J.d.F., R.J.M.v.G.; study design, K.N., R.J.M.v.G.; literature research, K.N.; clinical studies, K.N., R.J.M.v.G.; data acquisition, K.N., R.J.M.v.G.; data analysis/interpretation, K.N., P.M.T.P., B.J.R., P.J.d.F.; statistical analysis, K.N.; manuscript preparation and definition of intellectual content, K.N., P.M.T.P.; manuscript editing, K.N., P.M.T.P., B.J.R., P.J.d.F.; manuscript revision/review and final version approval, all authors


    REFERENCES
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 

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