FAQs
Cardiac CT


Why is it called Ultra-Fast CT?
A regular CT has tube rotation speed of 1 or .75 seconds. This CT has tube rotation speed of 330ms, i.e. approximately 3 rotations per second. This allows extremely fast scans of the body, such that routine chest and abdomen sequences can be completed in 3-5 seconds. That is way it is called Ultra-Fast CT.

How does cardiac CT work?
With such a fast scanner, it is possible to "freeze" the heart. The new 64-slice scanner obtains almost 194 slices per second. After gating with the ECG, it is possible to scan the heart in 10-12 seconds and to extract information about the coronary arteries and cardiac function from the dataset.

What preparation is involved?
  • 4 hours fasting before the procedure
  • Stabilization of heart rate with a beta-blocker
  • Getting all old cardiac related information.
What does the procedure involve?
Once the heart rate is stabilized
  • A vein is cannulatedo Breathing instructions are given so that the patient can hold his/her breath for around 12 seconds
  • A calcium scoring study is performed
  • The "dye" is injected and the angiogram study is performed
The angiogram time is 10-12 seconds. The entire procedure takes between 15-60 minutes depending on the heart rate.

What are the various parts of the study?
The following 3 parameters are studied
  • Calcium scoring
  • Coronary artery assessment
  • Functional assessment (wall motion and ejection fraction)
What are the indications?
  • Patients at high risk for developing coronary artery disease (high triglycerides, family history, smoking)
  • Follow-up of known mild to moderate untreated disease
  • Post-bypass assessment
Are there any dangers of CT scanning?
Though X-rays involve radiation, there are no dangers, in practice. In women who are pregnant, however, CT scanning should be done after weighing all the risks and benefits.

What is the injection that I will receive?
The majority of patients will be injected with a "dye" which enhances the ability of CT scans to pick up abnormalities. This is routine. Only a non-ionic dye (the safest) is used.
Are there any complications of the "DYE"?
0.5% of patients may get nausea and redness of the skin. Though severe reactions are known, these are very rare and uncommon.

Are there other instructions?
Please get all old X-rays, sonography, CT and MR films along with other papers, operative notes, discharge cards, etc. relevant to the case. Please come fasting for at least six hours, prior to the scan. There should, preferably be an accompanying friend or relative.

  • Please inform the doctor, nurse or the receptionist, if you are at high risk for "dye" injection, as described above, i.e if you have a history of drug reactions, bronchial asthma, cardiac or kidney disease, etc.
  • Please inform the doctor, nurse or the receptionist if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant.

 

Radiology Second Opinion Pain Management  Radio Frequency Ablation

Cardiac CT Inner Spaces Preventive Health Checks Sleep Studies