Posted on 04/20/2024 1:32:23 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
A study shows that a non-invasive imaging test can help identify patients with coronary artery blockage or narrowing who need a revascularization procedure.
Doctors use coronary CT angiography (CTA) to diagnose narrowed or blocked arteries in the heart. A CTA exam receives a score from mild (0–1) to severe (4–5). Patients with scores above 3 typically require medical treatments.
Doctors have traditionally relied on invasive coronary angiography to image vessels and more recently have added fractional flow reserve (FFR) to identify and assess significant blockages.
To assess CT-FFR, Dr. Randhawa conducted a retrospective study of patients who underwent coronary CTA at MGH between August 2020 and August 2021.
During the study period, 3,098 patients underwent coronary CTA. 292 (9.7%) were referred for CT-FFR analysis, and eight were excluded, leaving 284.
As expected, most referrals to CT-FFR were patients with scores of 3 or above. CT-FFR was requested in the majority (73.5 %) of patients with a score of 3 (moderate narrowing/blockage).
"In patients with moderate narrowing or blockage of the arteries, there can be ambiguity about who would benefit from invasive testing and revascularization procedures," Dr. Randhawa said. "CT-FFR helps us identify and select those patients who are most likely to benefit."
Out of the 284 patients, 160 (56.3%) had a negative CT-FFR result of > 0.80, 88 patients (30.9%) had a clearly positive (abnormal) result of ≤ 0.75, and the remaining 36 patients (12.6%) had a borderline result between 0.76–0.80.
Patients with significant narrowing/blockages on coronary CTA who underwent CT-FFR had lower rates of invasive coronary angiography (25.5% vs. 74.5%) and subsequent percutaneous coronary intervention (21.1% vs. 78.9%) than patients who were not referred for a CT-FFR.
Said Brian B. Ghoshhajra, M.D., M.B.A. "CT-FFR makes the CT 'better,' but we found that the benefits were highest when used selectively."
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
“A CTA exam receives a score from mild (0–1)...”
If 0 gets you a “mild” rating, what score would get you a “clear” rating?
I had this procedure.
Who the heck wants to drive all the way to CT just to take an exam? Just kidding!
Save! Thanks. May be the next thing on my doc’s list.
That was a persiflage. Which is apparently a medieval word Webster wants to bring back. Its what you say - as far as I can discern - when nobody got the joke.
Seriously though, thanks for what you do. Life and death stuff. Its appreciated.
;-)
Can you describe what is involved? How was it?
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