Author(s)

Imre Benedek, Monica Chitu, Istvan Kovacs, Bajka Balazs, Theodora Benedek

University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Tirgu Mures, Tirgu Mures, Romania.

Introduction: The aim of our study was to assess the incremental value of Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA) added to classical coronary angiography, for complex characterization of coronary lesions and prediction of procedural complexity in patients with significant left main (LM) stenoses. Material and Methods: Thirty-six patients with LM disease were enrolled in the study, and each subject underwent CCTA followed by coronary angiography and percutaneous revascularization. Results: Logistic regression analysis indicated a good correlation between the angiographic-calculated and the CCTA-derived Syntax scores for the whole group (r = 0.87, p < 0.0001) and for the high risk subgroup (r = 0.86, p < 0.0001), but not for the low and intermediate risk (r = 0.38, p = 0.21 and r = 0.62, p = 0.07 respectively). In cases which required complex PCI procedures, both angiographic and CCTA Syntax score were significantly higher than those who did not require complex revascularization procedures (24.5 +/-11.5 vs 32.2 +/-14.6, p = 0.09 for Angio Syntax, 35.3 +/-11.5 vs 25.2 +/-11.3, p = 0.01 for CCTA). In the same time, Ca scoring was significantly higher and plaque volumes were significantly larger in cases requiring complex revascularization procedures (299.5 +/-359.6 vs 917.3 +/-495.4, p = 0.04 for calcium score, 79.7 +/-28.5 vs 108.7 +/-25.3 mm³, p = 0.002 for plaque volumes). Multivariate analysis identified the following CCTA parameters as significant predictors of increased risk for complex intervention in LM lesions: plaque volume (OR 8.00, p = 0.008), Ca scoring (OR 6.37, p = 0.02) and CCTA Syntax score (OR 6.87, p = 0.01). Conclusions: CCTA derived parameters provide incremental information to classical coronary angiography for preoperative assessment of lesion severity in complex left main stenosis. CCTA derived Syntax score significantly correlates with the classical Coronary Angiography Syntax score and identifies the subgroup of patients who will be more exposed to procedural complications during the revascularization interventions.

Left Main; Syntax Score; Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography

Benedek, I. , Chitu, M. , Kovacs, I. , Balazs, B. and Benedek, T. (2013) Incremental value of preprocedural coronary computed tomographic angiography to classical coronary angiography for prediction of PCI complexity in left main stenosis. World Journal of Cardiovascular Diseases, 3, 573-580. doi: 10.4236/wjcd.2013.39090.