Coronary computed tomography angiography without catheter angiography before bypass surgery in a patient with diffuse
Cezary Kepka1, Maksymilian P Opolski, Zbigniew Juraszynski
1Department of Coronary Artery Disease, Institute of Cardiology, Warsaw, Poland.
Insights
Patients with extensive thoracic aortic plaque face high risks during coronary angiography. Computed tomography angiography identified risks, guiding surgical decisions for coronary artery bypass grafting.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Interventional Cardiology
Background:
- Coronary angiography poses significant risks, including stroke and embolism, for patients with thoracic aortic atheromatous plaques.
- Minimizing catheter-related complications is crucial for patient safety during cardiac procedures.
Observation:
- A 49-year-old male presented with severe angina and extensive aortic plaque burden.
- Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) was utilized due to high risk of cerebrovascular events from catheterization.
Findings:
- CCTA findings revealed extensive aortic plaque, confirming high embolic risk.
- The diagnostic imaging guided the decision for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
Implications:
- CCTA can effectively assess aortic plaque burden and guide procedural risk stratification.
- Modified surgical approaches may be necessary for patients with severe aortic disease undergoing revascularization.
Abstract:
Patients with atheromatous plaques of the thoracic aorta undergoing coronary angiography are subjected to a substantial risk of catheter-related stroke or peripheral embolism. We describe a 49-year-old male patient with class III angina symptoms and extensive aortic plaque burden referred for coronary computed tomography angiography due to a high risk of catheterization-related cerebrovascular complications. On the basis of computed tomography angiography findings, the final decision on coronary artery bypass grafting with a modification of the surgical approach was made.
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