Interventional physiology, Part XVI: Assessment of circumflex artery stenoses before high-risk coronary angioplasty.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M J Kern.
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Flow velocity changes during multivessel angioplasty suggests that collateral flow has an important role in determining safety and ischemic threshold during these procedures. The physiology of collateral flow with and without intra-aortic balloon pumping has been demonstrated in this individual and provides insight into the mechanisms of reduced ischemia during high-risk coronary interventions.
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While the angiographic appearance of coronary stenoses commonly directs interventional decisions, it may correlate imprecisely with hemodynamic or physiologic lesional significance. Previous data would suggest that direct measures of translesional physiology can be helpful in assessing the hemodynamic significance of stable coronary stenoses. In unstable ischemic syndromes, however, the hemodynamic severity of lesions may depend on the presence of variably occlusive intraluminal thrombus superimposed on fluctuating vessel tone. Under these circumstances, physiologic lesional assessment can yield helpful information, which nonetheless must be interpreted with caution in light of the clinical context. Determination of optimal management strategies for such patients remains difficult and must await further investigation of prognosis and outcome.
Transplant coronary arteriopathy is the major impediment to the long-term survival of cardiac allografts. This report highlights two-dimensional imaging and Doppler flow to assess transplant coronary arteriopathy.
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Antegrade or retrograde collateral flow velocity Doppler signals, acquired with the flowire, permit the quantitation of collateral blood flow and its phasic patterns. The velocity spectra are easily visualized, and reproducible alterations during balloon occlusion may be directly related to coronary collateral flow-dependent variables of ischemia and left ventricular wall motion. The effects of pharmacologic stimulation on collateral flow remain under study.
Rotational atherectomy is being performed with increasing frequency in a distinct subset of patients whose lesion characteristics are unfavorable for conventional balloon angioplasty. Although satisfactory luminal enlargement can be accomplished with the use of rotational atherectomy alone in some patients, adjunctive balloon angioplasty is necessary in most patients, to obtain a minimal residual angiographic result. To demonstrate responses associated with rotational atherectomy results, serial coronary blood flow measurements were obtained in a patient undergoing rotational atherectomy for unstable angina. Adjunctive balloon angioplasty resulted in normalization of post-stenotic coronary flow reserve. Recanalization by rotablator alone may not normalize coronary flow despite a satisfactory angiographic result.
Translesional pressure and flow velocity observations in the right coronary artery remain among the most difficult data to interpret because of variation in the location and relative size of branches, and unsuspected diffuse disease. Use of distal hyperemic response and translesional pressure gradients provides the most accurate assessment of serial lesions in such patients. In addition, the use of intracoronary thrombolysis can improve the angiographic appearance of lesions and facilitate later successful interventions. The post-infarction distal microvascular responsiveness may be impaired and, thus, abnormal coronary reserve values in this particular setting should be considered with lesion specific indicators of successful recanalization.
The physiologic importance of coronary stenoses can be assessed indirectly by stress myocardial perfusion imaging or directly by translesional pressure and flow measurements. The aims of this study were to compare myocardial fractional flow reserve (FFRmyo), a recently proposed index of lesion significance derived from hyperemic translesional pressure gradients, with directly measured poststenotic flow velocity reserve for the prediction of myocardial perfusion stress imaging results in corresponding vascular beds. Poststenotic coronary flow velocity (0.018-inch guide wire) and translesional pressure gradients (2.7F fluid-filled catheter) were measured at baseline and after intracoronary adenosine (12 to 18 micrograms) in 70 arteries (diameter stenosis: mean 56% +/- 15%, range 14% to 94% by quantitative angiography). Coronary flow reserve was calculated as the ratio of hyperemic to basal mean flow velocity. FFRmyo was calculated during maximal hyperemia as equal to 1-(hyperemic gradient [mean aortic pressure-5]), where 5 is the assumed central venous pressure. Positive and negative predictive values and predictive accuracy for reversible stress myocardial perfusion abnormalities were computed. There was a significant correlation between pressure-derived FFRmyo and distal coronary flow reserve (r = 0.46; p < 0.0001). The strongest predictor of stress myocardial perfusion imaging results was the poststenotic coronary flow reserve (chi square = 33.2; p < 0.0001). The correlation between stress myocardial perfusion imaging and FFRmyo was also significant (chi square = 8.3; p < 0.005). There was no correlation between stress myocardial perfusion imaging and percentage diameter stenosis (chi square = 2.9; p = 0.10) or minimal lumen diameter (chi square = 0.47; p = 0.73). A poststenotic coronary flow reserve of < or = 2 had a positive predictive value of 89% for regionally abnormal myocardial perfusion imaging abnormalities, whereas the positive predictive values of FFRmyo and angiographic percentage diameter stenosis were only 71% and 67% respectively. In conclusion, the predictive value of poststenotic coronary flow velocity reserve for stress-induced myocardial perfusion abnormalities exceeds that of the translesional FFRmyo. These findings should be considered when applying these techniques for clinical decision making in the assessment of coronary stenosis severity.
The objective of this study was to assess the use of coronary stenosis velocity in the determination of translesional pressure gradients. In the physiologic assessment of coronary stenosis, the accelerated intracoronary flow velocity within a narrowing has correlated with minimal lesion cross-sectional area according to the continuity equation. In large conduits the jet velocity can determine pressure gradients when used in the Bernouilli equation. However, the use of intralesional flow velocity for calculation of translesional pressure gradients by the simplified Bernouilli equation (delta P = 4V2) may be inaccurate in small (< 5 mm diameter) conduits. Translesional pressure (2.2F catheter) and flow velocity (0.018-inch guidewire) were measured in a single coronary artery in 23 patients undergoing diagnostic angiography or angioplasty. The electronically determined mean of phasic proximal and distal pressure and planimetry of the instantaneous phasic pressure gradient were used and compared with the instantaneous velocity calculations of pressure by the simplified Bernouilli formula with both maximal jet velocity and a modified formula including proximal velocity. The mean measured translesional pressure gradient was 18 +/- 13 mm Hg (range 0 to 50 mm Hg) and was equivalent to the instantaneous average pressure gradient by planimetry. The maximal jet velocity was 125 +/- 40 cm/sec (range 63 to 250 cm/sec), yielding a calculated pressure gradient of 3 +/- 3 mm Hg. The calculated pressure gradient by the simplified Bernouilli equation correlated poorly with the measured translesional gradient (r = 0.27, F = 1.63, p = 0.21).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
To characterize coronary blood flow velocity parameters and to determine the relation among velocity, volumetric flow, and vascular resistance in awake human beings, we performed paired proximal and distal velocity measurements in 28 angiographically normal coronary arteries. Mean velocity, peak velocity, diastolic-to-systolic velocity ratio, and diameter and cross-sectional area of proximal and distal arteries were determined and coronary flow and vascular resistance computed. Mean velocity and coronary vasodilator reserve were similar for all three native arteries and were preserved from proximal to distal segments. Volumetric flow decreased from proximal to distal segments. The demonstrated inverse and curvilinear (polynomial) relation between volumetric flow and vascular resistance agrees with theoretical and animal models of coronary physiologic characteristics and suggests a nadir of coronary vascular resistance below which coronary flow no longer increases.
OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility, safety and outcome of deferring angioplasty in patients with angiographically intermediate lesions that are found not to limit flow, as determined by direct translesional hemodynamic assessment. BACKGROUND: The clinical importance of some coronary stenoses of intermediate angiographic severity frequently requires noninvasive stress testing. Direct translesional pressure and flow measurements may assist in clinical decision making in patients with such stenoses. METHODS: Translesional spectral flow velocity (Doppler guide wire) and pressure data were obtained in 88 patients for 100 lesions (26 single-vessel and 74 multivessel coronary artery lesions) with quantitative angiographic coronary narrowings (mean +/- SD diameter narrowing 54 +/- 7% [range 40% to 74%]). Target lesion angioplasty was prospectively deferred on the basis of predetermined normal values, defined as a proximal/distal velocity ratio < 1.7 or a pressure gradient < 25 mm Hg, or both. Patients were followed up for 9 +/- 5 months (range 6 to 30). RESULTS: In the deferred angioplasty group, translesional velocity ratios were similar to those of a normal reference group (mean 1.1 +/- 0.32 vs. 1.3 +/- 0.55) and significantly lower than those of a reference cohort of patients who had undergone angioplasty (2.27 +/- 1.2, p < 0.05). The mean translesional pressure gradient in the deferred angioplasty group was also lower than that in the angioplasty group (10 +/- 9 vs. 45 +/- 22 mm Hg, p < 0.001). At follow-up in the deferred angioplasty group, four, six, zero and two patients, respectively, had had subsequent angioplasty, coronary artery bypass graft surgery or myocardial infarction or had died. In one patient, death was related to angioplasty of a nontarget artery lesion, and one patient with multivessel disease had a cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation 12 months after lesion assessment. Among the 10 patients requiring later angioplasty or coronary artery bypass grafting, only six procedures were performed on target arteries. No patient had a complication of translesional flow or pressure measurements. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate the safety, feasibility and clinical outcome of deferring angioplasty of coronary artery narrowings associated with normal translesional coronary hemodynamic variables. Given the practice of performing angioplasty without ischemic testing or when testing is inconclusive, translesional hemodynamic data obtained at diagnostic catheterization can identify patients in whom it is safe to postpone angioplasty.
To begin to define the genetic network involved in cardiogenesis, we generated mice bearing the alpha-myosin heavy chain (MHC)-Hoxb-7 transgene. We hypothesized that using the cardiac-specific alpha-MHC promoter, we can direct ectopic expression of Hoxb-7 in the heart and perturb its normal development. Both whole mount in situ hybridization and northern analyses showed that this alpha-MHC promoter resulted in transgene expression in the developing heart. Severe ventricular septal defects (VSD) were found in several mutant mice. Interestingly, transgenic mice were observed to have other malformations as well, including cleft palate, renal anomalies, and skeletal abnormalities in the craniocervical and costosternal regions. The kidney defect consisted of double ureter and pelvis. In summary, we have shown that a dominant gain-of-function mutation of Hoxb-7 using the murine alpha-MHC promoter results in perturbation of the genetic circuitry underlying multiple developmental processes, including cardiogenesis. Misexpression of Hoxb-7 during heart development may be involved in the pathogenesis of VSD.
The assessment of flow velocity using the Doppler guidewire provides a means of investigating both antegrade and retrograde blood flow in the coronary artery distal to obstructive lesions and occluding PTCA balloons. This has yielded unique qualitative and quantitative information regarding coronary collateral blood flow, and the responses of collaterals to pharmacological and haemodynamic perturbations. The current study analysed collateral flow velocity recordings obtained during coronary interventions in 46 patients in our laboratory. The mean collateral peak velocity integral distal to the occluding PTCA balloon was 9 +/- 7 units, while antegrade distal coronary peak velocity integral following stenosis relief by PTCA was 27 +/- 12 units. Thus, during PTCA balloon occlusion collaterals were able to supply a mean of 30 +/- 18% of the flow provided antegrade by successful PTCA. Variability in collateral flow velocity was not accounted for by differences in the PTCA artery assessed, the supply artery, the direction of collateral filling, the severity of coronary stenosis, or the angiographic grade of collaterals, and the magnitude of collateral flow velocity did not correlate with preserved left ventricular regional wall motion. The measurement of collateral flow velocity by intravascular Doppler provides unique and quantitative information regarding the coronary collateral circulation.
The functional significance of coronary artery disease is often inadequately revealed by the solely anatomic information provided by coronary angiography, especially with respect to intermediate-severity stenoses and the complex lesions that result from percutaneous coronary intervention. The clinical application of coronary flow velocity measurements using the Doppler flow wire during cardiac catheterization represents a promising means for providing immediate physiologic assessment of coronary artery lesion significance. Recent correlations with translesional hemodynamics and noninvasive perfusion imaging have confirmed the accuracy and reliability of Doppler translesional flow velocity assessment. The use of intracoronary flow velocity data for functional assessment can refine the selection of patients for revascularization. Furthermore, measurements of translesional and distal coronary flow velocity dynamics during procedures provide immediate data regarding the physiologic adequacy of the intervention. The information provided by the analysis of coronary blood flow using the Doppler guide wire can serve to improve the diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities of interventional cardiology.