Cardiac Computed Tomography Assessment in Acute Coronary Syndromes — Do We Have Time for It in Emergency Settings?

Abstract

The diagnosis and treatment of acute coronary syndrome remain a challenge for clinicians in many clinical settings, especially in patients with previous low-to-intermediate risk. Due to its high specificity and sensitivity for detecting significant coronary artery stenoses, cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) tends to be used more frequently in the emergency room (ER) in the last years. This technique has been associated with a higher rate of safe discharge in patients with chest pain, less time spent in the ER, and decreased costs related to further investigations. In cases positive for coronary artery stenosis, CCTA can accurately evaluate the indication for percutaneous coronary angioplasty and can offer relevant information related to the characteristics of the coronary plaques, being able to detect vulnerable coronary plaques. The aim of this manuscript is to highlight the possibility of using CCTA in the ER in the assessment of patients with chest pain and to show the benefits of the procedure regarding safety, costs, accuracy, and time.

CardioIMAGE — the Image of a Cardio Team

“…This issue of JIM publishes several articles dedicated to cardiac imaging that resulted from application of the CardioIMAGE equipments. [2][3][4][5][6] The role of cardiac CT in triple-rule-out protocols, the role of MRI in guiding stem cell transplantation after an acute myocardial infarction, or the role of CT in the identification of coronary fistulas or in diagnosing coronary disease in young patients, are nicely described by the authors.…”