OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical value of retrospective electrocardiogram (ECG) -editing technique in dual-source computed tomography (CT) coronary angiography in patients with arrhythmia.

METHODSTotally 73 patients with arrhythmia during dual-source CT coronary angiography were included into this study. A retrospective gating technique and ECG-editing technique (Insert Sync; Disable Sync; Delete Sync; Shift R-peak) were used in patients who needed ECG-editing. Two experienced radiologists evaluated in consensus all pre-editing and post-editing reconstructed images and recorded scores according to the American Heart Association guidelines on coronary segmentation on a per segment basis. Image quality of all coronary segments was assessed using a four-point grading scale from excellent (4 scores) to non-assessable (1 score) .

RESULTSThe overall mean image quality of 34 patients who did not need ECG-editing was 3.42 ± 0.20. In 39 patients who needed ECG-editing, the overall mean image quality before and after ECG-editing was 2.39?0.37 and 3.22?0.24. The mean image quality in every segment between pre-editing and post-editing was also significantly different (P<0.01) .

CONCLUSIONECG-editing technique can remarkably improve image quality of coronary artery segments by reducing or even eliminating the artifact produced by arrhythmia during dual-source CT coronary angiography.