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Efficacy of the spiral flow generating extended tube during paediatric CCTA.

Authors :: Masuda T
Funama Y
Nakaura T
Sato T
Tahara M
Yamashita Y
Yoshiura T
Masuda S
Gotanda R
Arao K
Imaizumi H
Arao S
Hiratsuka J
Awai K
Source :: Radiography (London, England : 1995) [Radiography (Lond)] 2022 May; Vol. 28 (2), pp. 420-425. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Oct 23.
Publication Year :: 2022
Abstract: Introduction: To compare the computed tomography (CT) number for paediatric cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and visualisation score of the three-dimensional (3D) images using the conventional T-shaped extended tube (T-tube) and spiral flow-generating extended tube (spiral-tube) connected between the contrast injector and cannula. Methods: In total, 108 patients suspected to have congenital heart disease (CHD) were considered for inclusion. We utilised the T-tube for intravenous contrast and spiral-tube in 54 patients each. Observers individually inspected randomized volume rendering images of the internal thoracic artery, each acquired from the with or without spiral-tube groups, using a four-point scale. We compared the mean CT number of the ascending aorta (AAO) and pulmonary artery (PA), contrast noise ratio (CNR), CT number for the AAO and PA enhancement ratio, and the visualisation scores between the groups. Results: There were no significant differences in patient characteristics between the with or without spiral-tube groups (p > 0.05). The mean CT number ±standard deviation for the AAO and PA, and the CNR without or with spiral-tube groups were 441.2 ± 89.2 and 489.8 ± 86.1 HU for the AAO, 436.3 ± 100.6 and 475.3 ± 85.2 HU for the PA, and 9.5 ± 2.2 and 10.8 ± 2.4 for the CNR, respectively (p < 0.05). In the spiral-tube group, the CT number, CNR, and visualisations score of the 3D images were significantly higher for the AAO and PA than those in the T-tube group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The spiral-tube proved to be beneficial in improving the CT number for the AAO and PA, CNR, and visualisation score compared with the conventional T-tube during paediatric CCTA. Implications for Practice: The spiral-tube may allow the visualisation of smaller blood vessels than those visualised by the conventional T-tube for paediatric patients in CCTA. Competing Interests: Conflict of interest statement The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. (Copyright © 2021 The College of Radiographers. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)