Evaluating a New Contrast Media Injection System in Coronary CT Angiography

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate a new contrast media (CM) injection system in patients undergoing coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA).

Methods: Seventy-one consecutive patients (33 men and 38 women, mean age 59.0 ± 14.5 years) who underwent CCTA between February and April 2019 using the CT injection system MEDRAD Stellant FLEX (Bayer) were included retrospectively in this single-center study. Quantitative and qualitative image quality parameters were assessed, and the injection system's usability and operational efficiency were evaluated. Results were compared with a matched control group.

Results: All examinations were rated as diagnostic. Usability and operational efficiency of the new injector were rated higher than that of the standard injector system, and no significant differences were found for quantitative and qualitative image quality parameters compared with the control group (P ≥ .05).

Discussion: Software-based injection facilitates individualized CM application while maintaining high image quality standards in CCTA. Diagnostic accuracy analysis was not performed, but as image quality analysis showed no significant differences, no discrepancies regarding this issue are expected.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the MEDRAD Stellant FLEX CT injection system allows for consistent high-quality CCTA scanning with increased usability and operational efficiency.

Keywords: computed tomography; contrast media; coronary CT angiography; injector; patient safety.