Table 1.
Protocol example for imaging of LAA occlusion devices using a 3rd generation dual source CT system
| Heart rate <70 bpm | Heart rate 71–85 bpm | Heart rate >85 | Arrhythmia | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| cCTA technique | High pitch single heart beat acquisition | Prospective ECG gating (step-and-shot) | Retrospective ECG gating | Retrospective ECG gating |
| Tube voltage | BMI <28: 70 kVp | BMI <28: 70 kVp | BMI <28: 70 kVp | BMI <28: 70 kVp |
| BMI 28.1–30: 80 kVp | BMI 28.1–30: 80 kVp | BMI 28.1–30: 80 kVp | BMI 28.1–30: 80 kVp | |
| BMI 30.1–33: 90 kVp | BMI 30.1–33: 90 kVp | BMI 30.1–33: 90 kVp | BMI 30.1–33: 90 kVp | |
| BMI >33: 100–120 kVp | BMI >33: 100–120 kVp | BMI >33: 100–120 kVp | BMI >33: 100–120 kVp | |
| Tube current-time product | Automated tube current modulation (Care Dose 4D, Siemens) | Automated tube current modulation (Care Dose 4D, Siemens) | Automated tube current modulation (Care Dose 4D, Siemens) | Automated tube current modulation (Care Dose 4D, Siemens) |
| Slice thickness | 0.6 mm | 0.6 mm | 0.6 mm | 0.6 mm |
| Reconstruction increment | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Reconstruction kernel | Bv40 (vascular kernel) (Siemens) | Bv40 (vascular kernel) (Siemens) | Bv40 (vascular kernel) (Siemens) | Bv40 (vascular kernel) (Siemens) |
| Reconstruction phase | 70 % RR | 40–70 % RR | 20–70 % RR | 10–90 % RR |
| Reconstruction technique | Iterative reconstruction level III (ADMIRE, Siemens) | Iterative reconstruction level III (ADMIRE, Siemens) | Iterative reconstruction level III (ADMIRE, Siemens) | Iterative reconstruction level III (ADMIRE, Siemens) |
| Contrast medium | 80 cc iomeprol 400 (Bracco)a | 80 cc iomeprol 400 (Bracco)a | 80 cc iomeprol 400 (Bracco)a | 80 cc iomeprol 400 (Bracco)a |
Note: bpm: beats per minute; kVp: kilovoltage peak; ECG: electrocardiograma contrast material is not reduced as it is possible for a standard coronary CT angiography in order to reduce blood stasis artifacts within the left atrial appendage; the scan start is determined using bolus tracking within the descending aorta using a threshold of 120 HU and an additional delay of 7 s in order to have a slightly delayed scan start when compared to standard