Background: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is an accurate technique for assessing ventricular function, myocardial perfusion and viability; its development remains limited mainly because of logistical and time constraints. Data regarding optimization of a dedicated stress CMR workflow are needed.
Aims: This study aimed to describe the optimization of a dedicated workflow, and to assess the feasibility and safety of stress CMR in a large registry of>35,000 patients.
Methods: A large single-centre French registry of vasodilator stress CMR included consecutive patients referred between 2008 and 2019 for the detection of inducible ischaemia. Stress CMR was performed at 1.5 Tesla using dipyridamole. Clinical and demographic data, test quality, CMR findings, haemodynamic data and complications were recorded prospectively. A locally optimized workflow was described and evaluated.
Results: Among the 35,862 patients referred for vasodilator stress CMR (mean age 68.9±11.8 years; 64.1% male), the stress CMR protocol was completed in 35,013 (97.6%) patients; 144 (0.3%) patients with missing baseline data were excluded. The mean examination duration was 27±5min, with image quality optimal in 90.8%, suboptimal in 7.1% and poor in 0.5% of cases. Images were diagnostic in 97.9% of patients. No patients died during or immediately after CMR. Fifty-six (0.16%) patients had severe complications. The incidence of non-severe complications was low (1.5%), whereas minor symptoms occurred frequently (35.5%). The presence of ischaemia was associated with a higher incidence of severe complications, non-severe complications and minor symptoms (all P<0.001).
Conclusions: This single-centre prospective registry of>35,000 referral patients with known or suspected CAD showed that stress CMR was feasible in clinical routine practice, with high diagnostic image quality and an excellent safety profile. Inducible ischaemia was associated with severe complications, non-severe complications and minor symptoms.
Keywords: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance; Dipyridamole; IRM cardiovasculaire; IRM de stress; Ischaemia; Ischémie; Safety; Stress perfusion CMR; Tolérance.
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