Abstract
Visual assessment of coronary stenosis severity using conventional coronary angiography is associated with wide interoperator variability and a weak relationship with hemodynamics. Invasive coronary physiology assessment using fractional flow reserve (FFR) has been shown to be safe and beneficial. Large multicenter randomized trials have demonstrated the superiority of FFR-guided percutaneous coronary intervention in reducing the risk of major cardiac adverse events, number of stents used, and total cost in patients with multivessel coronary disease. FFR requires vasodilatory agents for the microvasculature to induce maximal hyperemia, which carry a slight risk, cost, and effort. Nonhyperemic pressure ratios provide a physiologic metric without vasodilator medications but with more limited clinical outcomes data. The transition from anatomy to physiology for coronary artery disease decision-making represents a cultural sea change in the cardiac catheterization laboratory that requires time and retooling.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 263-266 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Cardiology in Review |
Volume | 30 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 1 2022 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- coronary artery disease
- fractional flow reserve
- major adverse cardiac events
- nonhyperemic pressure ratios
- revascularization
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Medicine