On-Site Computed Tomography-Derived Fractional Flow Reserve to Guide Management of Patients With Stable Coronary Artery Disease: The TARGET Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND: Computed tomography-derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) using on-site machine learning enables identification of both the presence of coronary artery disease and vessel-specific ischemia. However, it is unclear whether on-site CT-FFR improves clinical or economic outcomes when compared with the standard of care in patients with stable coronary artery disease. METHODS: In total, 1216 patients with stable coronary artery disease and an intermediate stenosis of 30% to 90% on coronary computed tomographic angiography were randomized to an on-site CT-FFR care pathway using machine learning or to standard care in 6 Chinese medical centers. The primary end point was the proportion of patients undergoing invasive coronary angiography without obstructive coronary artery disease or with obstructive disease who did not undergo intervention within 90 days. Secondary end points included major adverse cardiovascular events, quality of life, symptoms of angina, and medical expenditure at 1 year. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were similar in both groups, with 72.4% (881/1216) having either typical or atypical anginal symptoms. A total of 421 of 608 patients (69.2%) in the CT-FFR care group and 483 of 608 patients (79.4%) in the standard care group underwent invasive coronary angiography. Compared with standard care, the proportion of patients undergoing invasive coronary angiography without obstructive coronary artery disease or with obstructive disease not undergoing intervention was significantly reduced in the CT-FFR care group (28.3% [119/421] versus 46.2% [223/483]; P<0.001). Overall, more patients underwent revascularization in the CT-FFR care group than in the standard care group (49.7% [302/608] versus 42.8% [260/608]; P=0.02), but major adverse cardiovascular events at 1 year did not differ (hazard ratio, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.59-1.30]). Quality of life and symptoms improved similarly during follow-up in both groups, and there was a trend towards lower costs in the CT-FFR care group (difference, -¥4233 [95% CI, -¥8165 to ¥973]; P=0.07). CONCLUSIONS: On-site CT-FFR using machine learning reduced the proportion of patients with stable coronary artery disease undergoing invasive coronary angiography without obstructive disease or requiring intervention within 90 days, but increased revascularization overall without improving symptoms or quality of life, or reducing major adverse cardiovascular events. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov; Unique identifier: NCT03901326.

Diagnostic Performance of Noninvasive Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography-Derived FFR for Coronary Lesion-Specific Ischemia Based on Deep Learning Analysis.

Background: The noninvasive computed tomography angiography-derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) can be used to diagnose coronary ischemia. With advancements in associated software, the diagnostic capability of CT-FFR may have evolved. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a novel deep learning-based software in predicting coronary ischemia through CT-FFR. Methods: In this prospective study, 138 subjects with suspected or confirmed coronary artery disease were assessed. Following indication of 30%-90% stenosis on coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography, participants underwent invasive coronary angiography and fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurement. The diagnostic performance of the CT-FFR was determined using the FFR as the reference standard. Results: With a threshold of 0.80, the CT-FFR displayed an impressive diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of 97.1%, 96.2%, 97.7%, 0.98, 96.2%, and 97.7%, respectively. At a 0.75 threshold, the CT-FFR showed a diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, AUC, PPV, and NPV of 84.1%, 78.8%, 85.7%, 0.95, 63.4%, and 92.8%, respectively. The Bland-Altman analysis revealed a direct correlation between the CT-FFR and FFR (p < 0.001), without systematic differences (p = 0.085). Conclusions: The CT-FFR, empowered by novel deep learning software, demonstrates a strong correlation with the FFR, offering high clinical diagnostic accuracy for coronary ischemia. The results underline the potential of modern computational approaches in enhancing noninvasive coronary assessment.

Real-time 3D-3D image fusion of CTA/CBCT roadmap fluoroscopy in the transcatheter mitral intervention.

Absence of periprocedural visualization of three-dimensional (3D) left heart anatomy and its surrounding structures in fluoroscopy may reduce the rate of successful transcatheter mitral valve repair. We proposed a multimodal imaging strategy based on 3D computed tomography (CT) angiography and 3D cone beam CT fusion images, which enabled real-time visual inspection of 3D cardiac structures on fluoroscopy, to optimize transcatheter mitral intervention. This new image fusion technology, together with standard transesophageal echocardiography guidance, improved the efficiency and safety of the procedure, and could be considered as a new workflow for transcatheter mitral valve intervention.

Preliminary findings on diagnostic performance of computed tomography perfusion images for intracranial arterial stenosis: a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: Computed tomographic perfusion (CTP) can play an auxiliary role in the selection of patients with acute ischemic stroke for endovascular treatment. However, data on CTP in non-stroke patients with intracranial arterial stenosis are scarce. We aimed to investigate images in patients with asymptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis to determine the detection accuracy and interpretation time of large/medium-artery stenosis or occlusion when combining computed tomographic angiography (CTA) and CTP images. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 39 patients with asymptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis from our hospital database from January 2021 to August 2023 who underwent head CTP, head CTA, and digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Head CTA images were generated from the CTP data, and the diagnostic performance for each artery was assessed. Two readers independently interpreted the CTA images before and after CTP, and the results were analyzed. RESULTS: After adding CTP maps, the accuracy (area under the curve) of diagnosing internal carotid artery (R1: 0.847 vs. 0.907, R2: 0.776 vs. 0.887), middle cerebral artery (R1: 0.934 vs. 0.933, R2: 0.927 vs. 0.981), anterior cerebral artery (R1: 0.625 vs. 0.750, R2: 0.609 vs. 0.750), vertebral artery (R1: 0.743 vs. 0.764, R2: 0.748 vs. 0.846), and posterior cerebral artery (R1: 0.390 vs. 0.575, R2: 0.390 vs. 0.585) occlusions increased for both readers (p < 0.05). Mean interpretation time (R1: 72.4 ± 6.1 s vs. 67.7 ± 6.4 s, R2: 77.7 ± 3.8 s vs. 72.6 ± 4.7 s) decreased when using a combination of both images both readers (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The addition of CTP images improved the accuracy of interpreting CTA images and reduced the interpretation time in asymptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis. These findings support the use of CTP imaging in patients with asymptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis.

Prevalence and clinical implications of calcification in internal carotid artery stenosis: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Calcification is common in advanced atheromatous plaque, but its clinical significance remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of plaque calcification in the moderate-to-severe internal carotid artery stenosis and investigate its relationship with ipsilateral ischemia. METHODS: The retrospective study included 178 patients detected with proximal internal carotid artery (pICA) stenosis of ≥ 50% on multidetector computed tomography at Zhejiang Hospital from January 2019 to March 2023. Association between plaque calcification characteristics (calcification thickness, position, type, circumferential extent, calcium volume and calcium score) and ipsilateral cerebrovascular events was analyzed. RESULTS: The 178 patients (mean age 71.24 ± 10.02 years, 79.78% males) had 224 stenosed pICAs overall. Plaque calcification was noted in 200/224 (89.29%) arteries. Calcification rates were higher in older age-groups. Calcification volume (r = 0.219, p < 0.001) and calcification score (r = 0.230, p < 0.001) were correlated with age. Ipsilateral ischemic events were significantly more common in the noncalcification group than in the calcification group (χ2 = 4.160, p = 0.041). The most common calcification type was positive rim sign calcification (87/200, 43.50%), followed by bulky calcification (66/200, 33.00%); both were significantly associated with ischemic events (χ2 = 10.448, p = 0.001 and χ2 = 4.552, p = 0.033, respectively). Calcification position, thickness, and circumferential extent, and calcification volume and score, were not associated with ischemic events. In multivariate analysis, positive rim signs (OR = 2.795, 95%CI 1.182-6.608, p = 0.019) was an independent predictor of ischemic events. CONCLUSIONS: Plaque calcification in proximal internal carotid artery is common, and prevalence increases with age. Calcification characteristics could be predictive of ipsilateral ischemic events. The positive rim sign within plaque is a high-risk factor for a future ischemic event.

Association of Coronary Computed Tomography-Defined Myocardial Bridge With Pre- and Post-Procedural Fractional Flow Reserve in Patients Undergoing Elective Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial bridge (MB) is a common coronary anomaly characterized by a tunneled course through the myocardium. Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) can identify MB. The impact of MB detected by CCTA on coronary physiological parameters before and after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: We investigated 141 consecutive patients who underwent pre-PCI CCTA and fractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided elective PCI for de novo single proximal lesions in the left anterior descending artery (LAD). We compared clinical demographics and physiological parameters between patients with and without CCTA-defined MB. MB was identified in 46 (32.6%) patients using pre-PCI CCTA. The prevalence of diabetes was higher among patients with MB. Median post-PCI FFR values were significantly lower among patients with than without MB (0.82 [interquartile range 0.79-0.85] vs. 0.85 [interquartile range 0.82-0.89]; P=0.003), whereas pre-PCI FFR values were similar between the 2 groups. Multivariable linear regression analysis revealed that the presence of MB and greater left ventricular mass volume in the LAD territory were independently associated with lower post-PCI FFR values. Multivariable logistic regression analysis also revealed that the presence of MB and lower pre-PCI FFR values were independent predictors of post-PCI FFR values ≤0.80. CONCLUSIONS: CCTA-defined MB independently predicted both lower post-PCI FFR as a continuous variable and ischemic FFR as a categorical variable in patients undergoing elective PCI for LAD.

Anomalous origin of the coronary artery: prevalence and coronary artery disease in adults undergoing coronary tomographic angiography.

BACKGROUND: Anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery (AAOCA) is a rare congenital coronary anomaly with the potential to cause adverse cardiac events. However, there is limited data on the association between AAOCA and coronary artery disease (CAD). Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine the prevalence and symptoms of patients with AAOCA, as well as investigate the correlation between AAOCA and CAD in a population referred for coronary computed tomographic angiography (CTA). METHODS AND RESULTS: All consecutive patients who underwent CTA from 2010 to 2021 were included. Characteristics, symptoms, coronary related adverse events and CTA information were reviewed by medical records. Separate multivariable cumulative logistic regressions were performed, using the stenosis severity in each of the four coronaries as individual responses and as a combined patient clustered response. Finally, we identified 207 adult patients with AAOCA, the prevalence of AAOCA is 0.23% (207/90,501). Moreover, this study found no significant association between AAOCA and CAD. AAOCA did not contribute to higher rates of hospitalization or adverse cardiac events, including calcification. CONCLUSION: AAOCA is a rare congenital disease that is not associated with increased presence of obstructive CAD in adults.

A morphological indicator for aortic dissection: fitting circle of the thoracic aorta.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to identify a morphological indicator of aortic dissection (AD) based on the geometrical characteristics of the thoracic aorta. METHODS: We evaluated computed tomographic angiograms of 63 samples with AD (22 with type A AD, 41 with type B AD) and 71 healthy samples. Via centerline extraction and spatial transformation, the spatial entanglement of the aorta was minimized, and the expanded 2D aortic morphology was obtained. The 2D morphology of the thoracic aorta was fit to a circle. The applicability of the fitting circle method for identifying aortic dissection was verified by multivariable logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Via the 3D coordinate transformation algorithm, the optimal aortic view was obtained. On this view, the geometrical characteristics of the thoracic aortas of the healthy controls were similar to a portion of a circle (sum of residuals: 3502.45 ± 2566.71, variance: 86.23 ± 56.60), while that of AD samples had poorer similarity to the circle (sum of residuals: 5404.78 ± 3891.69, variance: 129.90 ± 90.09). This difference was significant (p < 0.001). A logistic regression model showed that increased deformation of the thoracic aorta was a significant indicator of aortic dissection (odds ratio: 1.35, p = 0.034). CONCLUSIONS: The morphology of the healthy thoracic aorta could be fit to a circle, while that of the dissected aorta had poorer similarity to the circle. The statistics of the circle are an effective indicator of aortic deformation in AD. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study is registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2000029219).

Predicting coronary artery severity in patients undergoing coronary computed tomographic angiography: Insights from pan-immune inflammation value and atherogenic index of plasma.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) is pivotal in diagnosing coronary artery disease (CAD). We explored the link between CAD severity and two biomarkers, Pan-Immune Inflammation Value (PIV) and Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP), in stable CAD patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: A retrospective observational study of 409 CCTA patients with stable angina pectoris. Logistic regression identified predictors of severe CAD, stratified by CAD-RADS score. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves evaluated predictive performance. PIV and AIP were significant predictors of severe CAD (PIV: OR 1.002, 95% CI: 1.000-1.004, p < 0.021; AIP: OR 0.963, 95% CI: 0.934-0.993, p < 0.04). AUC values for predicting severe CAD were 0.563 (p < 0.001) for PIV and 0.625 (p < 0.05) for AIP. Combined with age, AUC improved to 0.662 (p < 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: PIV and AIP were associated with severe CAD, with AIP demonstrating superior predictive capability. Incorporating AIP into risk assessment could enhance CAD prediction, offering a cost-effective and accessible method for identifying individuals at high risk of coronary atherosclerosis.

Diagnostic performance of coronary computed tomography angiography stenosis score for coronary stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Coronary computed tomography angiography stenosis score (CCTA-SS) is a proposed diagnosis score that considers the plaque characteristics, myocardial function, and the diameter reduction rate of the lesions. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the CCTA-SS in seeking coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: The 228 patients with suspected CAD who underwent CCTA and invasive coronary angiography (ICA) procedures were under examination. The diagnostic performance was evaluated with the receiver operating curve (ROC) for CCTA-SS in detecting CAD (defined as a diameter reduction of ≥ 50%) and severe CAD (defined as a diameter reduction of ≥ 70%). RESULTS: The area under ROC (AUC) of CCTA-SS was 0.909 (95% CI: 0.864-0.943), which was significantly higher than that of CCTA (AUC: 0.826; 95% CI: 0.771-0.873; P = 0.0352) in diagnosing of CAD with a threshold of 50%. The optimal cutoff point of CCTA-SS was 51% with a sensitivity of 90.66%, specificity of 95.65%, positive predictive value of 98.80%, negative predictive value of 72.13%, and accuracy of 91.67%, whereas the optimal cutoff point of CCTA was 55%, and the corresponding values were 87.36%, 93.48%, 98.15%, 65.15%, and 88.60%, respectively. With a threshold of 70%, the performance of CCTA-SS with an AUC of 0.927 (95% CI: 0.885-0.957) was significantly higher than that of CCTA with an AUC of 0.521 (95% CI: 0.454-0.587) (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: CCTA-SS significantly improved the diagnostic accuracy of coronary stenosis, including CAD and severe CAD, compared with CCTA.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of routine computed tomography angiography (CTA) for lower extremity penetrating trauma.

BACKGROUND: Routine evaluation with CTA for patients with isolated lower extremity penetrating trauma and normal ankle-brachial-indices (ABI) remains controversial. While prior literature has found normal ABI's (≥0.9) and a normal clinical examination to be adequate for safe discharge, there remains concern for missed injuries which could lead to delayed surgical intervention and unnecessary morbidity. Our hypothesis was that routine CTA after isolated lower extremity penetrating trauma with normal ABIs and clinical examination is not cost-effective. METHODS: We performed a decision-analytic model to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of obtaining a CTA routinely compared to clinical observation and ABI evaluation in hemodynamically normal patients with isolated penetrating lower extremity trauma. Our base case was a patient that sustained penetrating lower extremity trauma with normal ABIs that received a CTA in the trauma bay. Costs, probability, and Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) were generated from published literature. RESULTS: Clinical evaluation only (no CTA) was cost-effective with a cost of $2056.13 and 0.98 QALYs gained compared to routine CTA which had increased costs of $7449.91 and lower QALYs 0.92. Using one-way sensitivity analysis, routine CTA does not become the cost-effective strategy until the cost of a missed injury reaches $210,075.83. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with isolated, penetrating lower extremity trauma with normal ABIs and clinical examination do not warrant routine CTA as there is no benefit with increased costs.

Pre-operative Imaging of Critical Coarctation of the Aorta: Impact on Surgical Approach and Outcomes.

Computed tomographic angiography (CTA) has been increasingly used for the evaluation of infants with aortic arch hypoplasia and coarctation of the aorta. The goals of this study were to compare echocardiographic and CTA findings in critical coarctation of the aorta, to evaluate each modality's influence on surgical approach for repair and determine if pre-operative measurements or surgical approach are associated with residual lesions/re-interventions. This was a single-center retrospective cohort study that included 85 neonates and infants who underwent repair of coarctation/arch hypoplasia by three months of age. Two groups were compared: patients with pre-operative echocardiograms only and patients with both echocardiogram and CTA evaluations. 44 (52%) patients received an echocardiogram and CTA, and 41 (48%) patients received an echocardiogram only. Patients in the CTA + echo group had smaller mitral valve and ascending aorta measurements (p = 0.01). When comparing CTA to echocardiogram measurements, the aortic valve annulus, ascending aorta, proximal and distal transverse arch, and isthmus were smaller on echo (p < 0.01). A smaller aortic valve annulus and aortic root as well as thoracotomy approach were associated with residual gradients/re-intervention (p < 0.01). Our study found that patients who underwent CTA preoperatively had smaller left-sided structures. Aortic measurements were smaller on echocardiogram when compared to CTA. Smaller left-sided structures proximal to the aortic arch and thoracotomy predicted the development of residual lesions/re-intervention. CTA is useful in the surgical planning for neonates with arch hypoplasia/coarctation and may help risk stratify for residual lesions/re-intervention.

Anomalous anatomic variation of an absent deep inferior epigastric artery: implications for autologous breast reconstruction.

Autologous breast reconstruction using abdominally based perforator flaps has become increasingly popular following mastectomy for breast cancer. Of these, the deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap represents one of the most popular techniques. However, surgeons must remain cognizant of anatomic variations in the abdominal wall vasculature that could complicate or preclude planned DIEP flaps. In this case, a 64-year-old female with a history of prior tubal ligations and caesarean sections underwent preoperative computed tomographic angiography (CTA) for planned autologous breast reconstruction with a DIEP flap. CTA revealed complete absence of the left deep inferior epigastric artery, with a sizeable left abdominal wall perforator visualized receiving retrograde flow from a crossing midline branch originating from the contralateral right deep inferior epigastric system. This vessel traversed the midline in a superficial plane in the subcutaneous tissue. Despite this aberrant anatomy, the surgical team successfully raised a unilateral DIEP flap based on the right pedicle. This case represents a unique anatomical variation of the abdominal wall and emphasises the importance of preoperative imaging when planning abdominally based free flaps.

Dynamic myocardial CT perfusion imaging-state of the art.

In patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD), dynamic myocardial computed tomography perfusion (CTP) imaging combined with coronary CT angiography (CTA) has become a comprehensive diagnostic examination technique resulting in both anatomical and quantitative functional information on myocardial blood flow, and the presence and grading of stenosis. Recently, CTP imaging has been proven to have good diagnostic accuracy for detecting myocardial ischemia, comparable to stress magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography perfusion, while being superior to single photon emission computed tomography. Dynamic CTP accompanied by coronary CTA can serve as a gatekeeper for invasive workup, as it reduces unnecessary diagnostic invasive coronary angiography. Dynamic CTP also has good prognostic value for the prediction of major adverse cardiovascular events. In this article, we will provide an overview of dynamic CTP, including the basics of coronary blood flow physiology, applications and technical aspects including protocols, image acquisition and reconstruction, future perspectives, and scientific challenges. KEY POINTS: • Stress dynamic myocardial CT perfusion combined with coronary CTA is a comprehensive diagnostic examination technique resulting in both anatomical and quantitative functional information. • Dynamic CTP imaging has good diagnostic accuracy for detecting myocardial ischemia comparable to stress MRI and PET perfusion. • Dynamic CTP accompanied by coronary CTA may serve as a gatekeeper for invasive workup and can guide treatment in obstructive coronary artery disease.

Detection of Endoleaks Following Thoracic and Abdominal Aortic Endovascular Aortic Repair-: A Comparison of Standard and Dynamic 4D-Computed Tomography Angiography.

PURPOSE: Endoleaks are a common complication after endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) and thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). The detection and correct classification of endoleaks is essential for the further treatment of affected patients. However, standard computed tomography angiography (CTA) provides no hemodynamic information on endoleaks, which can result in misclassification in complex cases. The aim of this study was to compare standard CTA (sCTA) with dynamic, dual-energy CTA (dCTA) for detection and classification of endoleaks following EVAR or TEVAR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective evaluation compared 69 sCTA diagnostic examinations performed on 50 different patients with 89 dCTA diagnostic examinations performed on 69 different patients. RESULTS: In total, 15.9% of sCTA examinations and 49.4% of dCTA examinations led to the detection of endoleaks. With sCTA, 20.0% of patients were diagnosed with endoleaks, while with dCTA, 37.7% of patients were diagnosed with endoleaks. With sCTA, mainly Type 1 endoleaks were detected, whereas, with dCTA, the types of detected endoleaks were more evenly distributed. In comparison with the literature, the frequencies of endoleak types detected with dCTA better reflect the natural distribution than the frequencies detected with standard CTA. CONCLUSION: Based on the retrospective comparative evaluation, dCTA could pose a valuable supplementary diagnostic tool resulting in a more accurate and realistic detection and classification of suspected endoleaks.

Sex-Specific Morphometric Analysis of Ascending Aorta and Aortic Arch for Planning Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: In many studies on aortic disease, women are underrepresented. The present study aims to assess sex-specific morphometric differences and gain more insight into endovascular treatment of the ascending aorta (AA) and arch. METHODS: Electrocardiogram-gated cardiac computed tomography scans of 116 consecutive patients who were evaluated for transcatheter aortic valve replacement were retrospectively reviewed. Measurements of the AA and aortic arch were made in multiplanar views, perpendicular to the semi-automatic centerline. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify predictors affecting AA and aortic arch diameter in men and women. Propensity score matching was used to investigate whether sex influences aortic morphology. RESULTS: In both sexes, body surface area (BSA) was identified as a positive predictor and diabetes as a negative predictor for aortic diameters. In men, age was identified as a positive predictor and smoking as a negative predictor for aortic diameters. Propensity score matching identified 40 pairs. Systolic and diastolic mean diameters and AA length were significantly wider in men. On average, male aortas were 7.4% wider than female aortas, both in systole and diastole. CONCLUSIONS: The present analysis demonstrates that, in women, increased BSA is associated with increased aortic arch diameters, while diabetes is associated with decreased AA and arch diameters. In men, increased BSA and age are associated with increased AA and arch diameters, while smoking and diabetes are associated with decreased AA and arch diameters. Men were confirmed to have 7.4% greater AA and arch diameters than women. CLINICAL IMPACT: Men had 7.4% greater ascending aorta and arch diameters than women in a retrospective cohort, gated computed tomography-based study of 116 patients. Sex-specific differences in ascending aortic and arch size should be considered by aortic endovascular device manufacturers and physicians when developing ascending and arch endografts and planning aortic interventions.

In Vitro Geometry Analysis of Fenestrations in Endovascular Aneurysm Repair.

PURPOSE: Changes in the flared end of balloon-expandable covered stent (BECS) may precede BECS-associated complications but are not regularly assessed with computed tomographic angiography (CTA) after fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair (FEVAR). Validation of the flare geometric analysis (FGA) and assessment of intraobserver and interobserver variability are investigated in this study. METHODS: Two series of 3 BeGraft BECSs (Bentley InnoMed GmbH, Hechingen, Germany) and 1 series of 3 Advanta V12 BECSs (Getinge AB, Göteborg, Sweden) were deployed in 3 side branches (45°, 60°, and 90° aortic branch angles) of an aorta phantom model. A standard post-FEVAR CTA scan was acquired. Computed tomographic angiography-derived measurements consisted of centerline reconstructions and placement of 3-dimensional coordinate markers by 2 observers in a vascular workstation. Flare geometric analysis calculates 3 BECS parameters: the circumferential flare-to-fenestration distance (FFD), which is the distance from the proximal end of the flare to fenestration, and diameters at the proximal end of the flare (Dflare) and at the fenestration (Dfenestration). Computed tomographic angiography-derived measurements were validated against microscopy measurements. Bland-Altman plots were used to determine the intraobserver and interobserver variability of the BECS parameters and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). RESULTS: For each BECS, the FFD at 4 equidistant quadrants of the circumference, Dflare, and Dfenestration were calculated. The mean difference and repeatability coefficient (RC) of the validation were 0.8 (2.1) mm for FFD, 0.4 (1.0) mm for Dflare, and -0.2 (1.2) mm for Dfenestration. The mean intraobserver and interobserver difference (RC) was 0.5 (1.6) mm and 0.7 (2.6) mm for FFD, 0.1 (0.6) mm and 0.1 (0.7) mm for Dflare, and -0.1 (0.8) mm and -0.8 (1.0) mm for Dfenestration. The mean ICC of intraobserver variability was 0.86 for FFD, 0.94 for Dflare, and 0.78 for Dfenestration. The mean ICC of interobserver variability was 0.77 for FFD, 0.92 for Dflare, and 0.48 for Dfenestration. CONCLUSION: This study showed that FGA of the flared ends of BECS can be performed with high accuracy in a phantom model, with good intraobserver and interobserver variability. Flare geometric analysis can be used to determine flare geometry of the BECS on standard post-FEVAR CTA scans.

A Comparative Study of Clinical and Aortic Morphological Characteristics between Bovine Aortic Arch and Normal Aortic Arch in Patients with Acute Type B Aortic Dissection.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to analyze the difference in clinical and aortic morphological features between the bovine aortic arch and normal aortic arch in patients with acute type B aortic dissection (aTBAD). METHODS: A total of 133 patients diagnosed with aTBAD were retrospectively collected. Based on aortic arch morphology, they were divided into the bovine aortic arch group (n = 20) and the normal aortic arch group (n = 113). Aortic morphological features were assessed on computed tomographic angiography. Clinical and aortic morphological features were then compared between the bovine aortic arch and normal aortic arch groups. RESULTS: Patients in the bovine aortic arch group were significantly younger and with higher weight and BMI than the normal aortic arch group (p < 0.001, p = 0.045, and p = 0.016, respectively). The total aortic length in the bovine aortic arch group was significantly shorter than that in the normal aortic arch group (p = 0.039). The tortuosity of descending thoracic aorta, the tortuosity of descending aorta, and the angulation of aortic arch were significantly lower in the bovine aortic arch group (p = 0.004, p = 0.015, and p = 0.023, respectively). The width of descending aorta, the height of aorta arch, and the angle of ascending aorta were significantly smaller in the bovine aortic arch group (p = 0.045, p = 0.044, and p = 0.042, respectively). CONCLUSION: When the aTBAD occurred, patients with bovine aortic arch were prone to be younger and with higher BMI than those with normal aortic arch. The aortic curvature and the total aortic length were lower in patients with bovine aortic arch.

Comparison of risk assessment strategies incorporating coronary artery calcium score with estimation of pretest probability to defer cardiovascular testing in patients with stable chest pain.

BACKGROUND: The risk assessment of patients with stable chest pain (SCP) to defer further cardiovascular testing is crucial, but the most appropriate risk assessment strategy remains unknown. We aimed to compare current strategies to identify low risk SCP patients. METHODS: 5289 symptomatic patients who had undergone coronary artery calcium score (CACS) and coronary computed tomographic angiography scan were identified and followed. Pretest probability (PTP) of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) for every patient was estimated according to European Society of Cardiology (ESC)-PTP model and CACS-weighted clinical likelihood (CACS-CL) model, respectively. Based on the 2019 ESC guideline-determined risk assessment strategy (ESC strategy) and CACS-CL model-based risk assessment strategy (CACS-CL strategy), all patients were divided into low and high risk group, respectively. Area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) and net reclassification improvement (NRI) was used. RESULTS: CACS-CL model provided more robust estimation of PTP than ESC-PTP model did, with a larger AUC (0.838 versus 0.735, p < 0.0001), positive IDI (9%, p < 0.0001) and less discrepancy between observed and predicted probabilities. As a result, compared to ESC strategy which only applied CACS-CL model to patients with borderline ESC-PTP, CACS-CL strategy incorporating CACS with estimation of PTP to entire SCP patients indicated a positive NRI (19%, p < 0.0001) and a stronger association to major adverse cardiovascular events, with hazard ratios: 3.97 (95% confidence intervals: 2.75-5.72) versus 5.11 (95% confidence intervals: 3.40-7.69). CONCLUSION: The additional use of CACS for all SCP patients in CACS-CL strategy improved the risk assessment of SCP patients to identify individuals at low risk.

Creating Virtual Models and 3D Movies Using DemoMaker for Anatomical Education.

Three-dimensional (3D) anatomy models have been used for education in health professional schools globally. Virtual technology has become more popular for online teaching since the COVID-19 pandemic. This chapter will describe a project in which a series of virtual anatomical models of organs and structures were developed for educational purposes, and it will describe in detail how to build three-dimensional (3D) movies using DemoMaker. Although setting up the 3D system was complicated and challenging, the process of reconstructing 3D models from radiographic images and the steps of creating animations and 3D movies are exponentially simpler. These efforts require minimal training, thus allowing most people to be able to engage in this modeling process and utilize the moviemaking steps. Amira® software and computed tomographic angiography (CTA) data were used to create 3D models of the lungs, heart, liver, stomach, kidney, etc. The anatomical locations of these structures within the body can be identified and visualized by recording information from multiple CTA slices using volume and surface segmentation. Ultimately, these virtual 3D models can be displayed via dual projectors onto a specialized silver screen and visualized stereoscopically by viewers as long as they wear 3D polarized glasses. Once these 3D movies are created, they can be played automatically on a computer screen, silver screen, 3D system playback screen, and video player, and they can be embedded into PowerPoint lecture slides. Both virtual models and movies are suitable for self-directed learning, face-to-face class teaching, and virtual anatomy education. Model animations and 3D movie displays offer students the opportunities to learn about anatomy and the anatomical positions of organs in the body and their 3D relationships to one another. By observing and studying these 3D models, students have the potential to be able to compartmentalize the anatomical information and retain it at a higher level than students learning corresponding anatomy without similar resources.