title: ECG-edit function in multidetector-row computed tomography coronary arteriography for patients with arrhythmias.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  ECG-gating is necessary for cardiac computed tomography, but is not suitable for arrhythmias, so the aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the ECG-edit function for this purpose.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 1,221 patients undergoing 64-row multidetector-row computed tomography coronary angiography (coronary MDCT), 123 patients (28 atrial fibrillation (Af), 39 premature atrial contractions (PAC), 42 premature ventricular contractions (PVC), 3 PAC + PVC, 10 sinus arrhythmias (SA), and a second-degree atrioventricular block (2 degrees AVB)) had arrhythmias necessitating the ECG-edit function. Short R-R interval was deleted and mid-diastolic phases were selected from the long R-R intervals using the "R+absolute time" method. In the present study, the reconstructed images were evaluated using a triple-grade scale A-C, representing excellent, acceptable, and unacceptable image quality. Image quality, categorized as A, B and C, respectively, was 50%, 36% and 14% for the 28 patients with Af; 56%, 36% and 8% for the 39 PAC patients, and 65%, 33% and 2% in the 42 PVC patients. None of the scans of the PAC + PVC, SA, and 2 degrees AVB patients was ranked as C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ECG-edit function is useful for reconstructing coronary MDCT images in many arrhythmias, and provides clinically acceptable images in most cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological Technology, Takase Clinic, Takasaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsutani
authors.forename: Tomonari
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sano
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: Hitomi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: Takehiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arai
authors.forename: Takako
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sekine
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takase
authors.forename: Akitsugu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oida
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fukazawa
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suguta
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: Takahide
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kodama
authors.forename: Tadaaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Orihara
authors.forename: Norikazu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Masaharu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsuyuki
authors.forename: Jagat
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Narula
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001146:Arrhythmia, Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018880:Atrial Premature Complexes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D054537:Atrioventricular Block / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003331:Coronary Vessels; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D018879:Ventricular Premature Complexes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging