Comparison of a High-Pitch Non-ECG-Gated and a Prospective ECG-Gated Protocol for Preprocedural Computed Tomography Imaging Before TAVI/TAVR.

Purpose: Preprocedural computed tomography (CT) imaging before transcatheter aortic valve implantation/replacement (TAVI/TAVR) requires high diagnostic accuracy without motion artifacts. The aim of this retrospective study is to compare the image quality of a high-pitch non-electrocardiography (ECG)-gated CT protocol used in patients with atrial tachyarrhythmias with a prospectively ECG-gated CT protocol used in patients with sinus rhythm.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively included 108 patients who underwent preprocedural CT imaging before TAVI/TAVR. 52 patients with sinus rhythm were imaged using a prospectively ECG-gated protocol (Group A), and 56 patients with atrial tachyarrhythmias were imaged using the high-pitch non-ECG-gated protocol (Group B). Image quality was rated subjectively by two experienced radiologists and assessed by objective parameters including radiation dose, image noise, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at the levels of the aortic root and abdominal aorta.

Results: Subjective image quality was equally good with both CT protocols, and interrater agreement was substantial in both groups but tended to be higher in Group B at the level of the aortic root (Group A: κw = 0.644, Group B: κw = 0.741). With the high-pitch non-ECG-gated CT protocol, image noise was significantly increased (p = 0.001), whereas the SNR, CNR, and radiation dose were significantly decreased (p = 0.002, p = 0.003, and p < 0.001, respectively) at the level of the aortic root compared to the prospectively ECG-gated CT protocol.

Conclusion: The high-pitch non-ECG-gated protocol yields images with similar subjective image quality compared with the prospectively ECG-gated CT protocol and allows motion-free assessment of the aortic root for accurate TAVI/TAVR planning. The high-pitch non-ECG-gated protocol may be used as an alternative for preprocedural CT imaging in patients with atrial tachyarrhythmias.

Key Points: · In patients with atrial tachyarrhythmias, a high-pitch non-ECG-gated CT protocol achieves similar subjective image quality compared to a prospective ECG-gated CT protocol.. · At the level of the aortic root, image noise is significantly increased, whereas SNR and CNR are significantly decreased using the high-pitch non-ECG-gated protocol.. · Radiation dose is reduced by 55 % using the high-pitch non-ECG-gated protocol..

Citation Format: · Shnayien S, Beetz N, Bressem KK et al. Comparison of a High-Pitch Non-ECG-Gated and a Prospective ECG-Gated Protocol for Preprocedural Computed Tomography Imaging Before TAVI/TAVR. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2023; 195: 139 - 147.