Cardiac Computed Tomography: Before and After Cardiac Surgery.

ABSTRACT

Cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is a noninvasive imaging technique that has been rapidly adopted into clinical practice. Over the past decade, technological advances have improved CCTA accuracy, and there is an increasing amount of data supporting its prognostic value in the assessment of coronary artery disease. Recently, "appropriate use criteria" has been used as a tool to minimize inappropriate testing and reduce patient exposure to unnecessary risk and inconclusive studies. This review will summarize the appropriate uses of CCTA in patients before and after cardiac surgery. Although the most common indication for CCTA is assessment of patency of native coronary arteries, other potential perioperative uses (eg, assessment of congenital heart disease, valvular heart disease, pericardial disease, myocardial disease, cardiac anatomy, bypass grafts, aortic disease, and cardiac masses) will be reviewed.