Open AccessPotential role of coronary computed tomography angiogram in cardiac preoperative evaluation
Author(s) -
Ahmed Fathala
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
saudi journal of anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.416
H-Index - 24
eISSN - 1658-354X
pISSN - 0975-3125
DOI - 10.4103/1658-354x.84120
Subject(s) - medicine , coronary artery disease , radiology , ventricle , cardiology , coronary angiogram , stress testing (software) , computed tomography , myocardial perfusion imaging , scintigraphy , stress echocardiography , coronary angiography , myocardial infarction , computer science , programming language
Preoperative assessment of the cardiac patients before noncardiac surgery is concern in the clinical practice of anesthesiologist, surgeon, and medical consultant. The preferred stress testing is exercise electrocardiogram (ECG) in patients who are able to exercise and have normal ECG; however, either stress myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) or stress echocardiography is necessary if further testing is appropriately indicated before surgery. Unfortunately, stress MPs or stress echocardiography is not widely available and has some limitations. Coronary computed tomography angiogram (CCTA) has demonstrated excellent diagnostic accuracy in detecting coronary artery disease and accurate left ventricle function measurement. CCTA seems to be feasible, reliable, and has strong potential of becoming sole screening test before surgery.