Table 3.

Proposed CT angiography protocol (for the ruling out of coronary artery disease and pulmonary embolism).

Phase	Details
Preparation	Administer B-blockers until heart rate is <70 bpm (not appliable for the newest machines with 256+ slices)
	Use venous canula of at least 20 G
Coronary Calcium Score	ECG-gated, breathhold
	Acquisition from tracheal carina until 2 cm under cardiac shadow on survey scans
	Calcium score calculation using dedicated software
CT Angiography	Injection protocol
	Use contrast agent with concentration of 300–400 mg of iodine/mL Two phase injection: 1. 80–120 mL of contrast media, 5–6 mL/s 2. 30–40 mL of saline, 5–6 mL/s
	ECG-gated, breathhold
	Acquisition from just over the aortic arch until 2 cm under the heart
	Acquisition window 30–80% Contrast monitor plane on the tracheal carina
	Manual breathhold and acquisition start: 1. Breathhold command when pulmonary artery has maximum opacification 2. Start 3 s delay acquisition when aorta starts opacifying