Detection of patent coronary bypass grafts by computed tomography. A preliminary report.

Twenty-three coronary bypass graft patients were evaluated by a contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) technique to determine graft patency. Four to six 4.8-second sequenced scans with a 1-second interscan interval were obtained in each patient during the hand injection of 25-30 ml of contrast medium in a peripheral vein. Patency of grafts was determined by a characteristic contrast enhancement. The CT technique correlated with angiographic assessment of graft patency in 59 of 62 grafts (95%). We conclude that this relatively noninvasive technique shows promise as a method for determining coronary bypass graft patency.