ECG non-gated multi-detector computed tomography protocol prior to catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation provides sufficient data quality with lower radiation exposure compared to ECG-gated protocol. A prospective, randomized and blinded study

Abstract

Helical non-gated MDCT achieved a radiation dose more than four times lower with comparable image quality and course of ablation compared to ECG-gated protocol.

The impact of ECG synchronization during acquisition of left‑atrium computed tomography model on radiation dose and arrhythmia recurrence rate after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation - a prospective, randomized study

“…The delay of data acquisition was triggered using the "bolus tracking" technique. More details on CT technique could be fi nd in our previous work (5). The MDCT images were routinely evaluated by a radiologist, who also performed the scoring of the quality of visual data on a 5-point scale proposed by Wagner et al as follows: 1 -excellent depiction of LA with smooth endocardial surface; 2 -good depiction of LA with only discrete irregularities of the endocardial surface; 3 -moderate depiction of LA with moderate irregularities of the endocardial surface; 4poor depiction of LA with severe irregularities of the endocardial surface 5 -failed segmentation of LA (7).…”

“…We have recently shown the impact of MDCT images with and without ECG gating on the data quality and radiation dose (5). The impact of different methods of CT data acquisition on the event-free survival rate after catheter ablation remains unknown.…”