Affiliations 

  • 1 Akmal Sabarudin, Diagnostic Imaging and Radiotherapy Program, School of Diagnostic and Applied Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia
World J Cardiol, 2013 Dec 26;5(12):453-8.
PMID: 24392189 DOI: 10.4330/wjc.v5.i12.453

Abstract

The aim of this article is to discuss the protocol of beta-blockers that is commonly used for prospectively ECG-triggered coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). It is essential to ensure a low and regular heart rate in patients undergoing prospectively ECG-triggered CCTA for optimal visualization of coronary arteries. Although early generations of computed tomographyscanners are not applicable to be tailored according to patients' heart rate, a low and regular heart rate is possible to be achieved by the administration of medications according to the beta-blocker protocol. Beta-blocker can be safely administered to reduce patients' heart rate for CCTA examination if patients are screened for certain contraindications.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.