The Aquilion One 320 slice computerised tomography (CT) scanner provides 16 cm of coverage in a single rotation. Consequently cardiac imaging can be acquired in one rotation (<350ms) and functional data over one heart beat. Additionally, unlike previous generations of CT scanners, functional data may be acquired over consecutive heart beats, more comparable with conventional angiography. The first Aquilion One CT scanner in the southern hemisphere was commissioned by MonashHeart in September 2008. MonashHeart manages both children and adults with congenital and acquired heart disease.
In the first 3 months 22 patients with congenital heart disease have been scanned, 5 paediatric and 17 adult, and 2 children with acquired heart disease (Kawasaki disease, now aged 7 and 10 years). Indications were delineation of anatomy prior to interventional or surgical procedures, post-operative assessment of anatomy and ventricular function and evaluation of coronary artery disease. Patients were aged between 3 months and 78 years.
All studies have been diagnostic. Congenital diagnoses have included unoperated ASD, PDA and aortic valve or root abnormalities, post systemic to pulmonary artery shunt for tetralogy of Fallot, pulmonary atresia with VSD or intact ventricular septum, pre or post pulmonary homograft replacement, and post Fontan surgery or revision of Fontan. No patient has been anaesthetised or sedated for scanning. Radiation exposure has been low (as low as 0.2 mSv in babies).
This technology eliminates the need for conventional diagnostic catheterisation in many patients, providing excellent anatomical and functional data, with low radiation exposure and without anaesthesia or sedation.