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| Author | Karen Grima B.Sc (Hons) Radiography |
| Abstract | Purpose of study : This research project was designed to evaluate whether the results of the SPECT Myocardial Perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) studies, performed locally, have an impact on the management and treatment proposed for patients with intermediate (30 - 60 %), angiographically proved, coronary artery lesions. It also aimed to show whether the scintigraphy examinations carried out are reaching their goal of detecting the presence and site of any ischaemia present. Methods : In the Nuclear Medicine Department of St. Luke's hospital in Malta, a 2 day stress-rest protocol is usually carried out on the cardiac patients presenting with coronary artery disease (CAD). This protocol was also used in this research together with Technetium-99m MIBI myocardial perfusion scintigraphy SPECT imaging. The population sample consisted of 29 patients, 18 males and 11 females. This study was a non-experimental, correlational one in which patients (irrespective of their age, sex or ethnicity) with angiographically-proved 30-60 % coronary artery lesions were investigated for myocardial ischaemia. Results : These demonstrated that the MPS examinations carried out in Malta are adequately fulfilling their role. Moreover the results of the scintigraphy studies were seen to agree with the treatment proposed for the participants, in about 90% of cases. Conclusions: So it was deduced that the MPS examinations have an impact on the management of patients with intermediate coronary artery lesions. |
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| Key words | arteriosclerosis, coronary angiography, coronary artery disease (CAD), percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), myocardial ischaemia |