Cardiac CT is a specialized type of CT scan used to image the heart. It works by rapidly taking multiple X-ray images as the patient is moved through the scanner, and uses techniques like ECG gating and beta blockers to slow the heart rate and improve images of the moving organ. Cardiac CT is useful for evaluating symptoms of chest pain or breathlessness when other tests are inconclusive, and can also check on surgical repairs like stents or bypass grafts. Good candidates are symptomatic or asymptomatic patients where heart disease needs ruling out, while arrhythmias, renal failure or an uncooperative patient are contraindications unless pre-treated.

1. CARDIAC CTCARDIAC CT
PRESENTED BY
ABDULRAHMAN I. ALQUAIT
SENIOR CARDIAC CT TECHNOLOGIST

2. WHAT IS CT SCAN?WHAT IS CT SCAN?

3. How Does A CT Scan Work?How Does A CT Scan Work?
-HOW DOES X-RAY WORK?

4. How Does A CT Scan Work?How Does A CT Scan Work?
-BASIC CT SCAN IDEA

6. WHY CARDIAC CT ISWHY CARDIAC CT IS
DIFFERENT?DIFFERENT?
 IMAGING A MOVING OBJECT !!IMAGING A MOVING OBJECT !!

7. Solutions?Solutions?
1.1. Increase the camera speedIncrease the camera speed

8. 2.2. SLOW DOWN THE SPEEDSLOW DOWN THE SPEED
OF THE MOVING OBJECTOF THE MOVING OBJECT
(HEARTRATE)(HEARTRATE)
 PATIENT PREPARATIONPATIENT PREPARATION
 ADMINSTRATION OF BETA BLOCKERSADMINSTRATION OF BETA BLOCKERS

9. 3.3. ECG GATING TECHNIQUEECG GATING TECHNIQUE

10. Who should get a cardiac CT done!Who should get a cardiac CT done!
 The Patient is Symptomatic :The Patient is Symptomatic : (i.e. there is(i.e. there is
chest pain or breathlessness, but the physician /chest pain or breathlessness, but the physician /
cardiologist is not convinced that there iscardiologist is not convinced that there is
coronary artery disease)coronary artery disease)
 The Patient is Asymptomatic :The Patient is Asymptomatic : (i.e. there are(i.e. there are
no problems, such as chest pain orno problems, such as chest pain or
breathlessness, but coronary artery disease needsbreathlessness, but coronary artery disease needs
to be ruled out)to be ruled out)

11. Other Indications:Other Indications:
 Post-bypassPost-bypass
 Post-stentPost-stent
 TumorsTumors

12. CONTRAINDICATIONSCONTRAINDICATIONS
 CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIASCARDIAC ARRHYTHMIAS
 RENAL FAILURERENAL FAILURE
 NON COOPERATIVE PATIENTNON COOPERATIVE PATIENT
 Prior contrast reactions are a relativePrior contrast reactions are a relative
contraindication; patients can frequently be pre-contraindication; patients can frequently be pre-
treated with the use of a steroid and anti-treated with the use of a steroid and anti-
histamine preparation one day prior to thehistamine preparation one day prior to the
examination.examination.

15. THANKS!!THANKS!!