Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 4, 2026
A Murine Model of Myocardial Ischemia-reperfusion Injury through Ligation of the Left Anterior Descending Artery
Published on: April 10, 2014
Determination of Positivity of Computed Tomographic Angiography in Poorly Visualized Left Anterior Descending Artery
Amna Rehan1, Syed Qaisar Abbas2, Rehan Riaz3
1Department of Radiology, Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
Insights
CT angiography successfully visualized the left anterior descending artery (LAD) in 60% of patients with poor visualization on conventional angiography. This aids surgical revascularization decisions for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Imaging
- Interventional Cardiology
- Radiology
Background:
- Conventional coronary angiography (CCA) can have limitations in visualizing the left anterior descending artery (LAD).
- Accurate assessment of LAD is crucial for determining surgical revascularization strategies, such as coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography angiography (CTA) in visualizing poorly visualized LAD on CCA.
- To assess the utility of CTA in guiding decisions for surgical revascularization of the LAD.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive study involving 55 patients with non-graftable LAD on CCA.
- All patients underwent CTA, and those with graftable LAD on CTA proceeded to CABG.
- Peroperative assessment of LAD characteristics (diameter, calcification, graftability) was performed.
Main Results:
- CTA identified graftable LAD in 60% (33/55) of patients.
- Of these, 78.79% (26/33) underwent CABG, with 100% confirmed graftability peroperatively.
- LAD calcification and caliber varied among patients undergoing surgery.
Conclusions:
- CT angiography demonstrates significant positivity (60%) in visualizing poorly visualized LAD on conventional angiography.
- CTA is a valuable tool for assessing LAD graftability and informing surgical revascularization decisions.
Objective:
To determine the positivity of CT angiography in visualization of poorly visualized left anterior descending artery (LAD) on conventional angiography for decision of its surgical revascularization.
Study Design:
Descriptive study.
Place And Duration Of Study:
Department of Cardiac Surgery, Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology, Faisalabad, from July 2014 to March 2015.
Methodology:
This study involved 55 patients who had non-graftable LAD on conventional coronary angiography (CCA). All patients underwent computed tomography angiography (CTA). Patients having graftable LAD on CTA then underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Peroperatively, the characteristics of LAD such as diameter, calcification and graftability were also recorded.
Results:
The mean age of the patients was 52.76 ±8.52 years. There were 45 (81.8%) male and 10 (18.2%) female patients. Out of 55 patients, CTA revealed graftable LAD in 33 (60%) cases while LAD was non-graftable in 22 (40%) cases. Out of 33 patients having graftable LAD, 26 (78.79%) patients underwent CABG; whereas, remaining 7 (21.21%) patients had different reasons like other associated diseases and refusal from surgery. Among those who underwent surgery, LAD was graftable in all the patients (100%) peroperatively. Peroperatively 11 (42.3%) patients had mild calcification followed by severe calcification in 9 (34.6%) and moderate calcification in 6 (23.1%) cases. Fifteen (57.7%) patients had LAD caliber >1.5 mm while 11 (42.3%) patients had LAD caliber between 1.25 - 1.5 mm peroperatively.
Conclusion:
Positivity of the CT angiography for poorly visualized LAD on conventional angiography was 60% in the present study.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Sign Convention
The normal force acts perpendicular to the beam's cross-section and can...
01:15Enolate Mechanism Conventions
02:32Position-effect Variegation
01:26Muscles of the Anterior Neck
01:31Position and Displacement
01:03Serial Position Effect