Cardiac Angiography

	VR and MPR views of RCA and LAD with stent and soft plaque

Tchefuncte Cardiovascular Associates (TCA) is able to perform cardiac CT angiography (CTA) which focuses on the coronary arteries. The ability of cardiac CT to rule out coronary artery disease (CAD) exceeds a predictive value of 99%. Consequently, cardiac CT is extremely accurate.

Patients with a positive stress test who are demonstrating low to intermediate risk, as well as those with unexplained chest pains with intermediate risk factors (smoking, family history, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol) are evaluated by visualizing heart vessels, vessel walls, the thickness of each wall and the vessel lumen (bore). Rupture of a soft plaque is the most common cause of an acute coronary syndrome (i.e. a heart attack).

CTA also allows evaluation of the heart’s function- how well it pumps, and certain birth defects can be identified.

A plan of action can be developed for either medical treatment, interventions (angioplasty and/or stents), or surgery.