. The moderated ct angiography of the heart scanning protocol for children with dilated cardiomyopathy

Purpose. To moderate computed tomography angiography (CTA) of the heart scanning protocol in children with dilated cardiomyopathy and low left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) for optimal visualization of the heart and its major vessels.

Materials and methods. We examined 38 patients aged from 9 months to 17 years, undergoing treatment at the cardiology department in the of the Rehabilitation Clinic for Children of the Almazov National Medical Research Centre. Firstly, all patients were performed echocardiography (Echo). Echo data evaluated LVEF. The patients were selected based on the clinical diagnosis, the LVEF index, the patient’s height (or the length of the scan area). 2 groups of patients with DCM (with low LVEF) were formed - younger and older patients; for each group was formed a control group of patients with normal LVEF values. All patients underwent CTA on a 128-sliced computed tomograph Ingenuity Elite (Philips, Netherlands) after a bolus intravenous contrast medium injection.

Results. There was revealed a relationship between the start time of the scan and the LVEF, the patient’s height. For patients with low LVEF were created study protocols, where scan start time offset was set as: for the group 1 in the early arterial phase +3c, in the late arterial phase +5c, in the venous phase +15c; for the group 2 in the early arterial phase +5c, in the late arterial phase +5c, in the venous phase +29c.

Conclusion. The moderated scanning protocol presents good contrast enhancement by chambers of the heart and its major vessels. It is necessary for an assessment of the anatomy and pathological changes. The identified criteria (LVEF, patient height) should be considered for CTA of the heart in children with dilated cardiomyopathy.

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