Coronary Artery and Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Imaging Using a Specialized Catheter and Computed Tomography

Contrast-Enhanced Coronary Artery and Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Imaging Using Aortic Root Catheter Injection With Computed Tomographic Angiography (CTA)

The present study relates to a new approach to coronary artery and coronary artery by-pass graft imaging, and more particularly to computed tomographic angiography following an aortic root injection of a low amount of contrast (up to 30 cc) via a percutaneously placed catheter (Vanguard DX, Medrad Inc.) positioned in the aortic root.

The objective of the study is to show the feasibility of Coronary artery CTA using aortic root injection of contrast compared to the standard invasive cardiac catheterization.

Coronary artery disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide. The diagnosis via the gold standard, cardiac catheterization, remains a time consuming, expensive, and invasive procedure with some considerable risks. In addition, there is a significant risk due to cumulative amount of iodinated contrast delivered (between 80 - 120 cc) in patients who have abnormal renal insufficiency or at a high risk for developing contrast nephropathy. Cardiac catheterization specifically involves arterial puncture with a needle, usually in the groin or upper extremity, through which a guidewire is passed fluoroscopically to the ascending aorta. A catheter is then inserted over the guidewire and subsequently, the guidewire is removed and iodinated contrast is injected to opacify the aorta or coronary arteries. As such, there are different kinds of catheters that are used to engage either the right or left native coronary arteries or by-pass vein grafts. This procedure requires separate injections into the coronary arteries or by-pass grafts which can induce arrhythmias, require over one hour of procedural time, requires larger bore catheters, exposes the physician and patient to ionizing radiation and subjects the patient with coronary artery disease to contrast induced nephropathy, especially in cases requiring higher loads of iodinated contrast.

Of the noninvasive techniques, the most common limiting factor when employing IV-enhanced CTA is the underlying blood pool, which also enhances when contrast-enhanced protocols are employed using a peripheral intravenous contrast injection route. This results in a frequent obscuration of the native coronary arteries. Reproducible enhancement of the distal and tributary anatomy is another pitfall with IV-enhanced coronary CTA. In addition, the amount of contrast agent required is similar to that amount required during invasive coronary angiography. As such, the method of the present study provides an imaging concept of the coronary arteries employing a catheter device in conjunction with computed tomography (CT) imaging machine that will enable a reduction of the total amount of dye delivered to the patient.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Male and female patients that have an abnormal nuclear medicine heart scan and are already scheduled for cardiac catheterization for evaluation of coronary artery disease or disease of coronary artery bypass grafts will be asked to participate in this trial.
2. Provided informed consent.
3. Evaluation by a Cardiology Division staff or Cardiology nurse clinician.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patient is currently enrolled in another related research study.
2. Less than 18 years of age.
3. Pregnant patients.
4. Abnormal renal function with creatinine equal to or greater than 1.6 mg/dl or those subjects requiring dialysis.
5. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or heart-failure with cardiac ejection-fraction less than 30%.
6. Patients with known sensitivity to beta-blockers (Lopressor) or have asthma.
7. Patients receiving an abnormally large volume of contrast media during cardiac catheterization (> 200cc)