Project description:Electrocardiography and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin testing are routinely applied as the initial step for clinical evaluation of patients with suspected non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Once diagnosed, patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction are commenced on antithrombotic and secondary preventative therapies before undergoing invasive coronary angiography to determine the strategy of coronary revascularisation. However, this clinical pathway is imperfect and can lead to challenges in the diagnosis, management, and clinical outcomes of these patients. Computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) has increasingly been utilised in the setting of patients with suspected non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, where it has an important role in avoiding unnecessary invasive coronary angiography and reducing downstream non-invasive functional testing for myocardial ischaemia. CTCA is an excellent gatekeeper for the cardiac catheterisation laboratory. In addition, CTCA provides complementary information for patients with myocardial infarction in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease and highlights alternative or incidental diagnoses for those with cardiac troponin elevation. However, the routine application of CTCA has yet to demonstrate an impact on subsequent major adverse cardiovascular events. There are several ongoing studies evaluating CTCA and its associated technologies that will define and potentially expand its application in patients with suspected or diagnosed non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. We here review the current evidence relating to the clinical application of CTCA in patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and highlight the areas where CTCA is likely to have an increasing important role and impact for our patients.
Project description:ObjectivesThis study was designed to investigate whether coronary computed tomography angiography assessments of coronary plaque might explain differences in the prognosis of men and women presenting with chest pain.BackgroundImportant sex differences exist in coronary artery disease. Women presenting with chest pain have different risk factors, symptoms, prevalence of coronary artery disease and prognosis compared to men.MethodsWithin a multicenter randomized controlled trial, we explored sex differences in stenosis, adverse plaque characteristics (positive remodeling, low-attenuation plaque, spotty calcification, or napkin ring sign) and quantitative assessment of total, calcified, noncalcified and low-attenuation plaque burden.ResultsOf the 1,769 participants who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography, 772 (43%) were female. Women were more likely to have normal coronary arteries and less likely to have adverse plaque characteristics (p < 0.001 for all). They had lower total, calcified, noncalcified, and low-attenuation plaque burdens (p < 0.001 for all) and were less likely to have a low-attenuation plaque burden >4% (41% vs. 59%; p < 0.001). Over a median follow-up of 4.7 years, myocardial infarction (MI) occurred in 11 women (1.4%) and 30 men (3%). In those who had MI, women had similar total, noncalcified, and low-attenuation plaque burdens as men, but men had higher calcified plaque burden. Low-attenuation plaque burden predicted MI (hazard ratio: 1.60; 95% confidence interval: 1.10 to 2.34; p = 0.015), independent of calcium score, obstructive disease, cardiovascular risk score, and sex.ConclusionsWomen presenting with stable chest pain have less atherosclerotic plaque of all subtypes compared to men and a lower risk of subsequent MI. However, quantitative low-attenuation plaque is as strong a predictor of subsequent MI in women as in men. (Scottish Computed Tomography of the HEART Trial [SCOT-HEART]; NCT01149590).
Project description:BackgroundHandheld echocardiography (HHE) is concordant with standard transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in a variety of settings but has not been thoroughly compared to traditional TTE in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).HypothesisCompleted by experienced operators, HHE provides accurate diagnostic capabilities compared with standard TTE in AMI patients.MethodsThis study prospectively enrolled patients admitted to the coronary care unit with AMI. Experienced sonographers performed HHE with a V-scan. All patients underwent clinical TTE. Each HHE was interpreted by 2 experts blinded to standard TTE. Agreement was assessed with κ statistics and concordance correlation coefficients.ResultsAnalysis included 82 patients (mean age, 66 years; 74% male). On standard TTE, mean left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction was 46%. Correlation coefficients between HHE and TTE were 0.75 (95% confidence interval: 0.66 to 0.82) for LV ejection fraction and 0.69 (95% confidence interval: 0.58 to 0.77) for wall motion score index. The κ statistics ranged from 0.47 to 0.56 for LV enlargement, 0.55 to 0.79 for mitral regurgitation, and 0.44 to 0.57 for inferior vena cava dilatation. The κ statistics were highest for the anterior (0.81) and septal (0.71) apex and lowest for the mid inferolateral (0.36) and basal inferoseptal (0.36) walls.ConclusionsIn patients with AMI, HHE and standard TTE demonstrate good correlation for LV function and wall motion. Agreement was less robust for structural abnormalities and specific wall segments. In experienced hands, HHE can provide a focused assessment of LV function in patients hospitalized with AMI; however, HHE should not substitute for comprehensive TTE.
Project description:BackgroundThe future risk of myocardial infarction is commonly assessed using cardiovascular risk scores, coronary artery calcium score, or coronary artery stenosis severity. We assessed whether noncalcified low-attenuation plaque burden on coronary CT angiography (CCTA) might be a better predictor of the future risk of myocardial infarction.MethodsIn a post hoc analysis of a multicenter randomized controlled trial of CCTA in patients with stable chest pain, we investigated the association between the future risk of fatal or nonfatal myocardial infarction and low-attenuation plaque burden (% plaque to vessel volume), cardiovascular risk score, coronary artery calcium score or obstructive coronary artery stenoses.ResultsIn 1769 patients (56% male; 58±10 years) followed up for a median 4.7 (interquartile interval, 4.0-5.7) years, low-attenuation plaque burden correlated weakly with cardiovascular risk score (r=0.34; P<0.001), strongly with coronary artery calcium score (r=0.62; P<0.001), and very strongly with the severity of luminal coronary stenosis (area stenosis, r=0.83; P<0.001). Low-attenuation plaque burden (7.5% [4.8-9.2] versus 4.1% [0-6.8]; P<0.001), coronary artery calcium score (336 [62-1064] versus 19 [0-217] Agatston units; P<0.001), and the presence of obstructive coronary artery disease (54% versus 25%; P<0.001) were all higher in the 41 patients who had fatal or nonfatal myocardial infarction. Low-attenuation plaque burden was the strongest predictor of myocardial infarction (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.60 (95% CI, 1.10-2.34) per doubling; P=0.014), irrespective of cardiovascular risk score, coronary artery calcium score, or coronary artery area stenosis. Patients with low-attenuation plaque burden greater than 4% were nearly 5 times more likely to have subsequent myocardial infarction (hazard ratio, 4.65; 95% CI, 2.06-10.5; P<0.001).ConclusionsIn patients presenting with stable chest pain, low-attenuation plaque burden is the strongest predictor of fatal or nonfatal myocardial infarction. These findings challenge the current perception of the supremacy of current classical risk predictors for myocardial infarction, including stenosis severity. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT01149590.
Project description:A 54 year old female presented with lower extremity edema, fatigue, and shortness of breath with physical findings indicative of advanced aortic insufficiency. Echocardiography showed severe aortic regurgitation and a probable quadricuspid aortic valve. In anticipation of aortic valve replacement, cardiac computed tomography (Cardiac CT) was performed using 100 kV, 420 mA which resulted in 6 mSv of radiation exposure. Advanced computing algorithmic software was performed with a non-linear interpolation to estimate potential physiological movement. Surgical photographs and in-vitro anatomic pathology exam reveal the accuracy and precision that preoperative Cardiac CT provided in this rare case of a quadricuspid aortic valve. While there have been isolated reports of quadricuspid diagnosis with Cardiac CT, we report the correlation between echocardiography, Cardiac CT, and similar appearance at surgery with confirmed pathology and interesting post-processed rendered images. Cardiac CT may be an alternative to invasive coronary angiography for non-coronary cardiothoracic surgery with the advantage of providing detailed morphological dynamic imaging and the ability to define the coronary arteries non-invasively. The reduced noise and striking depiction of the valve motion with advanced algorithms will require validation studies to determine its role.
Project description:ObjectiveMyocardial rupture is a fatal complication of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Early diagnosis of myocardial rupture is feasible when emergency physicians (EPs) perform emergency transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). The purpose of this study was to report the echocardiographic features of myocardial rupture on emergency TTE performed by EPs in the emergency department (ED).MethodsThis was a retrospective and observational study involving consecutive adult patients presenting with AMI who underwent TTE performed by EPs in the ED of a single academic medical center from March 2008 to December 2019.ResultsFifteen patients with myocardial rupture, including eight (53.3%) with free wall rupture (FWR), five (33.3%) with ventricular septal rupture (VSR), and two (13.3%) with FWR and VSR, were identified. Fourteen of the 15 patients (93.3%) were diagnosed on TTE performed by EPs. Diagnostic echocardiographic features were found in 100% of the patients with myocardial rupture, including pericardial effusion for FWR and a visible shunt on the interventricular septum for VSR. Additional echocardiographic features indicating myocardial rupture were thinning or aneurysmal dilatation in 10 patients (66.7%), undermined myocardium in six patients (40.0%), abnormal regional motions in six patients (40.0%), and pericardial hematoma in six patients (40.0%).ConclusionEarly diagnosis of myocardial rupture after AMI is possible using echocardiographic features on emergency TTE performed by EPs.
Project description:Background and objectiveEpicardial adipose tissue (EAT) volume is associated with coronary plaque burden and adverse events. We aimed to determine, whether CT-derived EAT attenuation in addition to EAT volume distinguishes patients with and without myocardial infarction.Methods and resultsIn 94 patients with confirmed or suspected coronary artery disease (aged 66.9±14.7years, 61%male) undergoing cardiac CT imaging as part of clinical workup, EAT volume was retrospectively quantified from non-contrast cardiac CT by delineation of the pericardium in axial images. Mean attenuation of all pixels from EAT volume was calculated. Patients with type-I myocardial infarction (n = 28) had higher EAT volume (132.9 ± 111.9ml vs. 109.7 ± 94.6ml, p = 0.07) and CT-attenuation (-86.8 ± 5.8HU vs. -89.0 ± 3.7HU, p = 0.03) than patients without type-I myocardial infarction, while EAT volume and attenuation were only modestly inversely correlated (r = -0.24, p = 0.02). EAT volume increased per standard deviation of age (18.2 [6.2-30.2] ml, p = 0.003), BMI (29.3 [18.4-40.2] ml, p<0.0001), and with presence of diabetes (44.5 [16.7-72.3] ml, p = 0.0002), while attenuation was higher in patients with lipid-lowering therapy (2.34 [0.08-4.61] HU, p = 0.04). In a model containing volume and attenuation, both measures of EAT were independently associated with the occurrence of type-I myocardial infarction (OR [95% CI]: 1.79 [1.10-2.94], p = 0.02 for volume, 2.04 [1.18-3.53], p = 0.01 for attenuation). Effect sizes remained stable for EAT attenuation after adjustment for risk factors (1.44 [0.77-2.68], p = 0.26 for volume; 1.93 [1.11-3.39], p = 0.02 for attenuation).ConclusionCT-derived EAT attenuation, in addition to volume, distinguishes patients with vs. without myocardial infarction and is increased in patients with lipid-lowering therapy. Our results suggest that assessment of EAT attenuation could render complementary information to EAT volume regarding coronary risk burden.
Project description:We present the appearance of chordae tendineae calcification on transthoracic echocardiography and ECG-gated cardiac computed tomography in a 75 year-old woman. While the etiology is unclear, the abnormality can be clearly delineated on a properly performed CT study. We also discuss modification of the cardiac CT protocol to optimize visualization of the tricuspid valve apparatus.