Key result
Transthoracic Doppler echocardiography is effective for assessing left internal thoracic artery graft patency, demonstrating a pooled sensitivity of 85%, specificity of 94%, and DOR of 100.7.
Why the study?
Does transthoracic Doppler echocardiography accurately assess internal thoracic artery graft patency in post-CABG patients?
Meta-Analysis (n=929)
Does transthoracic Doppler echocardiography accurately assess internal thoracic artery graft patency in post-CABG patients?
Transthoracic Doppler echocardiography is a highly specific, effective first-line non-invasive test for assessing left internal thoracic artery graft patency, especially in patients with postoperative angina.
Supports transthoracic Doppler echocardiography as first-line non-invasive test for LITA graft patency post-CABG; confirms high diagnostic accuracy.
The amount of literature published over the past decade comparing coronary angiography with transthoracic Doppler echocardiography assessment of internal thoracic artery graft patency after CABG is substantial. There has been no review of the available literature, and conflicting reports of diagnostic accuracy have prevented routine use of transthoracic Doppler in graft patency assessment. Thus, this article reviews the available literature on diagnostic accuracy of transthoracic Doppler echocardiography of coronary bypass grafts. Relevant studies were identified and meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy was performed. Study quality was assessed. Quantitative data synthesis included calculation of sensitivity, specificity, summary receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, pooled analysis and meta-regression of accuracy against study quality, publication date, angina, probe frequency and diagnostic criteria. Twenty studies of 929 patients produced 26 results included for analysis. Grafts were not visualized in 93 (10%) patients. Pooled sensitivity (85%) and specificity (94%) and diagnostic odds ratio (100.7) were high. SROC analysis showed an area under the curve of 0.96. Heterogeneity of results was due to variations in diagnostic criteria and study size. Subgroup analysis showed best performance in patients with postoperative angina (p = 0.014). Study quality did not affect results. Diastolic fraction less than 0.5 (sensitivity 89%, specificity 94%) was shown to be the best criterion for prediction of stenosis. Performance was lower using peak diastolic to systolic velocity ratio less than 1 (sensitivity 85%, specificity 86%). Transthoracic Doppler echography is effective in first-line assessment of left internal thoracic artery graft patency. It shows high specificity, prevents invasive investigations and improves in patients with postoperative angina. TDE is best used in combination with other non-invasive tests due to its inability to visualize the graft. The potential for use in postoperative coronary bypass patients is high.
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Jones et al. (2005) conducted a meta-analysis in Internal thoracic artery graft patency after CABG (n=929). Transthoracic Doppler echocardiography vs. Coronary angiography was evaluated on Diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio) (DOR 100.7). Transthoracic Doppler echocardiography is effective for assessing left internal thoracic artery graft patency, demonstrating a pooled sensitivity of 85%, specificity of 94%, and DOR of 100.7.
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