Background-Multidetector CT coronary angiography (MDCTCA) is capable of detecting coronary artery disease (CAD) with a high diagnostic accuracy. In particular, this technique is credited with having a negative predictive value close to 100%. However, data about the prognostic value of MDCTCA are currently lacking. We sought to determine the prognostic value of MDCTCA in patients with suspected but undocumented CAD and, in particular, the incremental prognostic value as compared with clinical risk and calcium scoring. Methods and Results-A total of 441 patients (age, 59.7Ϯ11.6 years) with suspected CAD underwent MDCTCA to evaluate the presence and severity of the disease. Patients were followed up as to the occurrence of hard cardiac events (cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and unstable angina requiring hospitalization
Endovascular treatment is becoming the most important treatment modality in the complex management of type B dissection, providing benefits to both acute and chronic patients. Growing technical experience and improving stent-graft devices have resulted in better patient outcome and expanded clinical indications. Nevertheless, similar to any treatment option, this less invasive method has its inherent risks. Several cases of iatrogenic dissection have been reported in the literature, underlying the need for guidelines to minimize this risk and improve procedural safety. Extension of the dissection after endovascular repair of type B dissection does not appear to be device-specific, but related primarily to aortic wall alterations or adverse anatomy that arise most frequently in hypertensive patients or those with challenging aortic configuration. An accurate examination of the aortic wall and dissection anatomy and careful intraprocedural device manipulation and balloon molding may help avoid this potentially life-threatening complication.
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