CT PULMONARY ANGIOGRAM

1. CT PULMONARY ANGIOGRAM Dr Mohamed El Safwany, MD.

2. Intended learning outcome The student should learn at the end of this lecture procedures of CT pulmonary angiography.

3. INTRODUCTION CTPA was introduced in the 1990s as an alternative to ventilation/perfusion scanning, which relies on radionuclide imaging of the blood vessels of the lung. It is regarded as a highly sensitive and specific test for pulmonary embolism.

4. ANGIOGRAPHY Angiography is the visualization of blood vessel by injecting contrast media using invasive or non invasive technique.

5. ANATOMY The pulmonary arteries carry blood from the heart to the lungs. They are the only arteries that carry deoxygenated blood.

6. ANATOMY • Pulmonary artery begins at the base of the right ventricle. • It is short and wide approximately 5 cm (2 inches) in length and 3 cm (1.2 inches) in diameter. • It then branches into two pulmonary arteries (left and right), which deliver de-oxygenated blood to the corresponding lung.

8. INDICATION • Pulmonary embolism • Aortic dissection • Aortic overloading • Left ventricular stress

9. CONTRAINDICATION • Renal failure • Severe diabetes • Allergic to contrast reactions • Pregnant patients

10. PREPERATION • Enquire about pregnancy from females. • Renal parameters are to be checked. • Nil oral preparation for 4-6 hours • Informed consent from patient • All metal objects are to be removed from the region of interest • Patient is changed into hospital’s cotton apron. • Enquire about allergic history • A prominent vein in patients upper limb is catheterized with 18-20 gauge .

11. CONTRAST DOSAGE • 1.2ml /kg (body weight) of non-ionic iodinated contrast medium is injected intravenously into the patient using a pressure injector. • Rate of injection being 4-5 ml /sec

12. PATIENT POSITIONING • Patient is positioned feet first with the help of laser localizers at the level of sternal notch with coronal beam at mid-axillary line • Head first position can be also performed • Proper immobilization should be done

13. PATIENT POSITIONING • Proper breath hold instructions should be given • Ensure the patient connected IV lines, are long enough to allow full travel of the couch without being pulled or entangled while undergoing a CT

14. PATIENT POSITIONING • Test dose of about 2 – 5 ml of contrast is injected and patient is observed for any reaction associated • Patency should be checked before starting the scan

15. SCAN PARAMETERS

17. SMART PREP TECHNIQUE • It is a software, that allows real-time monitoring of IVContrast enhancement in the area ofinterest.

20. SCANNING PROCEDURE The caudal-cranial directionis used because most emboli are located in the lower lobes and,if the patient breathes during image acquisition, there is more coverage of the lower lobes compared with the upper lobes.

21. POST PROCESSING Volume rendering technique (VR) Maximum Intensity Projection (MIP)

22. Multi planar reconstruction (MPR)

29. MAIN AORTIC PULMONARY COLLATERAL ARTERIES

30. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES • Less time consuming • Non-invasive nature • Almost all radiology departments have CT scan • Less complication than conventional (elevated pulmonary arterypressures) • Lesser volume of contrast needed • Simple post procedure care • Can be done in out patient basis

31. CONCLUSION Conventional pulmonary angiography has long been consideredthe gold standard in the diagnosis of Pulmonary pathologies and historically itis the technique against which all other modalities have beenmeasured. This position has now been seriously challenged byhelical CT Pulmonary Angiography and now it is set to replace it as the newgold standard.

32. Text Book David Sutton’s Radiology Clark’s Radiographic positioning and techniques

33. Assignment Two students will be selected for assignment.

34. Question Define smart preparation parameters in pulmonary angiogram?

35. Thank You

36. THANK YOU…