Somatom definition flash dual source scanner

Pre-TAVI CT was performed as previously published [19 (link)]. A standardized native CT scan of the entire heart for the CACS was routinely performed, followed by the electrocardiogram-gated multi-slice CT on a Siemens Somatom Definition Flash Dual-Source scanner with a slice collimation of 128 × 0.6 mm, tube voltage of 100 or 120 kV, and tube current according to patient size (Siemens Medical Solutions, Inc., Forchheim, Germany). Each patient received an intravenous injection of 80–120 mL of contrast medium at a flow rate of 4 mL/s and image acquisition was performed during an inspiratory breath-hold in a cranio-caudal direction. As per our institutional protocol all TAVI-CT scans were performed without the use of beta-blocker or nitroglycerin prior to CTA scanning. Acquired CT images were then transferred to a dedicated workstation.

CT examinations were performed with a Somatom Definition Flash Dual Source scanner (Siemens Healthineers, Forchheim, Germany) with the following acquisition parameters: constant tube voltage = 120kV; automatic current modulation (CARE Dose4D, 20–25 mAs); and pitch = 0.9–1.2. Images were reconstructed by the B31f kernel with a section thickness of 0.6 mm. The effective dose was estimated by multiplying the dose-length product by a conversion factor of 0.017 mSvGy⁻¹ cm^–1, as recommended by European guidelines (25 (link)).