Multidetector CT Angiography in Evaluation of Prosthetic Heart Valve Dysfunction

Prosthetic heart valves (PHVs) are commonly implanted to replace diseased native heart valves. PHV dysfunction is an infrequent but potentially life-threatening condition. In daily clinical practice, transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography and fluoroscopy are the imaging modalities used for diagnostic evaluation of suspected PHV dysfunction. These modalities may not allow determination of the cause of PHV dysfunction, mostly because of acoustic shadowing. Multidetector computed tomographic (CT) angiography is a promising complementary technique for evaluation of PHVs, especially in patients with PHV obstruction and endocarditis. The CT image quality of PHVs mainly depends on their composition, with most causing only limited artifacts. Retrospectively electrocardiographically gated acquisition is advisable for PHV imaging because it enables dynamic leaflet evaluation and anatomic assessment in both systole and diastole. For accurate image interpretation, dedicated reconstruction in plane with and perpendicular to the PHV leaflets is mandatory. Besides PHV assessment, CT also provides information on the coronary arteries, the location and patency of bypass grafts, the dimensions of the aorta, and the distance between the sternum and right ventricle, information valuable for planning repeat surgery. To achieve the optimal diagnostic yield in PHV imaging, multidisciplinary cooperation between the departments of cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, and radiology is crucial.