Purpose: Catheter-directed computed tomography angiography (CCTA) has been shown to reduce the contrast volumes required in conventional CTA, thus minimizing the risk of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN).
Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on cases where CCTA was used to assess access vessels prior to transfemoral aortic valve implantation (TAVI, n = 53), abdominal aortic aneurysm assessment for endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR, n = 11), and peripheral vascular disease (PVD, n = 24).
Results: We show that CCTA can image vasculature with adequate diagnostic detail to allow assessment of lower extremity disease, anatomic suitability for EVAR, as well as potential contraindications to TAVI. Average contrast volumes for pre-TAVI, pre-EVAR, and PVD cases were 7, 11, and 28 mL, respectively.
Conclusion: This study validates the use of CCTA in obtaining diagnostic images of the abdominal and pelvic vessels and in imaging lower extremity vasculature.
Keywords: Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA); Aorta; Arterial intervention; Contrast media; EVAR; Intra-arterial; Peripheral vascular; TAVI.