Proposta de uma nova projeção angiográfica específica para a bifurcação da artéria coronária esquerda na era da intervenção percutânea do tronco coronário esquerdo

Abstract

Objectives – We propose a 90 – 120° right lateral with 30-40° cranial angiographic view to expose the bifurcation of the left main coronary artery (LMCA) when previously used routine projections were inefficient at clearly showing this region. Background – Little has been published in the medical literature regarding angiographic projections dedicated to special anatomies. Methods – A total of 84 patients were subjected to the proposed projections. A reproducibility study, conducted with the participation of two independent observers, judged the effectiveness of the proposed projection. The Prevalence and Bias Adjusted Kappa (PABAK) index, with a 95% confidence interval (CI), was used to demonstrate the intensity of intra- and inter-observer agreement: ≤ 0.20 = poor, 0.21 – 0.40 = slight, 0.41 – 0.60 = moderate, 0.61 – 0.80 = substantial and 0.81 – 1.0 = almost perfect. Results – The proposed projection was efficient in 79% of the angiograms, with agreement of 0.76 (0.6 – 0.9; P ≤ 0.001). The origin and the proximal segment of the anterior descending coronary artery were exposed in 89% of the angiograms, with agreement of 0.86 (0.7 – 1.0; P ≤ 0.001); the origin and the proximal segment of the circumflex artery were exposed in 83% of the angiograms, with agreement of 0.72 (0.5 – 1.0; P ≤ 0.001); and the origin and the proximal segment of the intermediate branch, when present, were exposed in 89% of the angiograms, with agreement of 0.79 (0.6 – 1.0; P ≤ 0.001). Conclusion – The proposed projection is effective, safe and reproducible. In special situations where routine projections fail, this proposed projection can reveal important details of the anatomy of the bifurcation of the LMCA during conventional