Study of aortic valve using multi slice computed tomography in patients presenting with chest pain

To determine aortic root dimensions in younger patients presenting with chest pain.

The descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology and the National Institute of Heart Diseases, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from September 12, 2018, to March 11, 2019, and comprised patients of either gender aged 18-55 years presenting with chest pain falling into Canadian Cardiovascular Society class I-IV and dyspnoea falling into New York Heart Association class I-IV. Multi-slice computed tomography image acquisition was performed in a single breath-hold of about 5-10 seconds, while electrocardiogram gated synchronised data acquisition was done with 60-100ml contrast. Multiphase data-sets were reconstructed followed by data analysis. Required measurements were recorded with software caliper and tracer. Data was analysed using SPSS 23.

Of the 330 patients, 236(71.5%) were males and 94(28.5%) were females. The overall mean age was 45.5±7.9 years. Bicuspid aortic valve was found in 3(0.9%) patients, while 327(99.1%) were tricuspid. Mean aortic valve area was 4.01±0.70cm2, mean aortic annular size was 21.9±2.37mm, sinotubular junction diameter was 23.9±3.45mm, and mean sinotubular junction height was 21.09±2.77mm. The mean diameter at sinuses of valsalva was 33.0±3.99mm.

Mean aortic root dimensions and general morphology of the aortic valve was determined to establish normal reference values.