Accuracy and Potential Benefit of Ultraselective Invasive Coronary Angiography Guided by Computed Tomographic Coronary Angiography.

OBJECTIVES

It is unknown whether computed tomographic coronary angiography (CTCA) can be used to perform ultraselective invasive coronary angiography (ICA) by only visualizing the abnormal coronary artery on CTCA and defer visualization of the normal contralateral coronary artery. This study assessed the accuracy of CTCA in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) on CTCA limited to either the left (LCA) or right coronary artery (RCA) in predicting a contralateral coronary artery without abnormalities on CTCA determined to be normal by ICA.

METHODS

This retrospective analysis included patients with CAD limited to the LCA or RCA on CTCA. Primary endpoint was the accuracy of CTCA to predict a contralateral coronary artery without abnormalities on CTCA to be normal by ICA. Secondary endpoints were potential reductions in procedure time and radiation exposure if an ultraselective ICA approach would be used compared to standard ICA.

RESULTS

In total, 202 patients were included. CTCA was correct in predicting a normal contralateral coronary artery in 201 of the 202 patients (99.5%). Deferring ICA of the normal contralateral coronary artery on CTCA resulted in a potential reduction in procedure time and dose area product of 4.22 ± 2.67 minutes (61 ± 16% reduction) and 1501 ± 1304 mGy•cm² (29 ± 13% reduction).

CONCLUSIONS

In this retrospective study, CTCA was extremely accurate in predicting a normal contralateral coronary artery in patients with LCA- or RCA-limited CAD on CTCA. A potential CTCA-guided ultraselective ICA approach was feasible and would have led to a considerable decrease in procedure time and radiation exposure.