Patient radiation exposure and consumption of contrast medium are considered major risks of diagnostic coronary angiography (CA). Rotation of the C-arm during CA could provide similar diagnostic accuracy and lower radiation exposure and contrast medium consumption.

To compare feasibility, safety, diagnostic accuracy, patient radiation exposure, and consumption of contrast medium of rotational CA with the invasive standard technique, intraindividual comparisons of the results obtained by both techniques were performed in 235 patients with an indication for first-time elective CA. In addition to conventional angiography, we performed 2 isocentric radiographic coronary spins with cranial and caudal tilts by 20° around the left coronary artery and 1 strict posteroanterior rotational spin around the right coronary artery.

In 16 patients, rotational CA was not performed because of safety concerns. In a further 12 patients, image quality of rotational scans was considered inadequate. In the remaining 207 patients, both modes of CA were proven suitable for anonymized, separate analysis by 3 independent cardiologists. Intraindividual comparison of both CA modes revealed a high degree of diagnostic agreement (Cohen κ >0.8 for all cardiologists and for each coronary segment). Contrast medium volume during rotational CA and conventional CA amounted to 31.9 ± 4.5 mL versus 52.2 ± 8.0 mL (P < .001) and patient radiation exposure amounted to 5.0 ± 2.6 Gy × cm² versus 11.5 ± 5.5 Gy × cm² (P < .001), respectively.

Rotational CA represents a safe and feasible method in clinical routine. Whereas diagnostic accuracy is similar to the usual conventional mode, consumption of contrast medium and patient radiation exposure are significantly reduced.