Efficacy of the spiral flow generating extended tube during paediatric CCTA

T Masuda; Y Funama; T Nakaura; T Sato; M Tahara; Y Yamashita; T Yoshiura; S Masuda; R Gotanda; K Arao; H Imaizumi; S Arao; J Hiratsuka; K Awai

doi:10.1016/j.radi.2021.10.007

Efficacy of the spiral flow generating extended tube during paediatric CCTA

Radiography (Lond). 2022 May;28(2):420-425. doi: 10.1016/j.radi.2021.10.007. Epub 2021 Oct 23.

Authors

T Masuda¹, Y Funama², T Nakaura³, T Sato⁴, M Tahara⁵, Y Yamashita⁶, T Yoshiura⁶, S Masuda⁷, R Gotanda⁸, K Arao⁸, H Imaizumi⁸, S Arao⁸, J Hiratsuka⁸, K Awai⁹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiological Technology, Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare, 288, Matsushima, Kurashiki, Okayama, 701-0193, Japan. Electronic address: takanorimasuda@yahoo.co.jp.
² Department of Medical Physics, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 1-1-1 Honjo, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan.
³ Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan.
⁴ Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Tsuchiya General Hospital, Nakajima-cho 3-30, Naka-ku, Hiroshima, 730-8655, Japan.
⁵ Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Tsuchiya General Hospital, Nakajima-cho 3-30, Naka-ku, Hiroshima, 730-8655, Japan.
⁶ Department of Radiological Technology, Tsuchiya General Hospital, Nakajima-cho 3-30, Naka-ku, Hiroshima, 730-8655, Japan.
⁷ Department of Radiological Technology, Kawamura Clinic, Otemachi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima, 730-0051, Japan.
⁸ Department of Radiological Technology, Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare, 288, Matsushima, Kurashiki, Okayama, 701-0193, Japan.
⁹ Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Kasumi 1-2-3 Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan.

PMID: 34702665
DOI: 10.1016/j.radi.2021.10.007

Abstract

Introduction: To compare the computed tomography (CT) number for paediatric cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and visualisation score of the three-dimensional (3D) images using the conventional T-shaped extended tube (T-tube) and spiral flow-generating extended tube (spiral-tube) connected between the contrast injector and cannula.

Methods: In total, 108 patients suspected to have congenital heart disease (CHD) were considered for inclusion. We utilised the T-tube for intravenous contrast and spiral-tube in 54 patients each. Observers individually inspected randomized volume rendering images of the internal thoracic artery, each acquired from the with or without spiral-tube groups, using a four-point scale. We compared the mean CT number of the ascending aorta (AAO) and pulmonary artery (PA), contrast noise ratio (CNR), CT number for the AAO and PA enhancement ratio, and the visualisation scores between the groups.

Results: There were no significant differences in patient characteristics between the with or without spiral-tube groups (p > 0.05). The mean CT number ±standard deviation for the AAO and PA, and the CNR without or with spiral-tube groups were 441.2 ± 89.2 and 489.8 ± 86.1 HU for the AAO, 436.3 ± 100.6 and 475.3 ± 85.2 HU for the PA, and 9.5 ± 2.2 and 10.8 ± 2.4 for the CNR, respectively (p < 0.05). In the spiral-tube group, the CT number, CNR, and visualisations score of the 3D images were significantly higher for the AAO and PA than those in the T-tube group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: The spiral-tube proved to be beneficial in improving the CT number for the AAO and PA, CNR, and visualisation score compared with the conventional T-tube during paediatric CCTA.

Implications for practice: The spiral-tube may allow the visualisation of smaller blood vessels than those visualised by the conventional T-tube for paediatric patients in CCTA.

Keywords: Computed tomography; Congenital heart disease; Contrast enhancement; Paediatric; Spiral flow-generating tube.

MeSH terms

Child
Computed Tomography Angiography* / methods
Coronary Angiography / methods
Heart
Humans
Radiation Dosage
Tomography, X-Ray Computed* / methods