Coronary Hemodynamics
Sketch coronary
Coronary feeds in diastole
Measurement of coronary function
Non invasive measurement

Invasive measure

MR
CT
PET

CAG
IVUS
OCT
FFR
CFR

FFR IS GOLD STANDARD
The bottle neck of CAG
Poor correlation of physiologic ischemia
The reason : minimal luminal dimensions and area, stenosis length,
exit and entrance angles, reference vessel diameter, and diffuse
coronary narrowing
intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)
Some improvement upon the decision of removing stenosis but not
satisfactory
Auto regulation limit
Maintain myocardial perfusion in systolic BP=60-180 mmHg
Auto regulation failure alarm
 Angina or equivalent
 Myocardial hibernation
 Myocardial stunning
 Myocardial infarction
Unique metabolism in cardiac muscle
• Myocardial blood flow α the balance of myocardial oxygen (MVO2)
demand and supply
• Heart assimilates from instantaneous oxidation of FFA, glucose, lactate,
pyruvate, and amino acids
• ATP is produced and consumed and no storage
• No oxygen debt as seen in skeletal muscle
• Any compromise in substrate=blood flow switch on alarm of energy
conservation of energy for the maintenance of cellular function
• Mechanical work is impaired =RWMA
• Myocardial sleeps in “hibernation” or death(MI)
ATP sharing areas
• Basal cellular metabolism: 20%
• myocardial force generation: 80%
MVO2[/min O2 in cardiac muscle] α CBF
Sales

• cardiac myocyte shortening
• contractility
• Relaxation
• myocardial wall tension
• heart rate

1st Qtr

2nd Qtr

3rd Qtr

4th Qtr
Coronary collaterals imply
• Attenuate the degree of ischemia
• Degree of collaterals is variable[number,size and location]
• Chronic severe stenosis
• Less long term mortality
Coronary resistance
• ΣEpicardial+precapillary arteriole+ myocardial capillary resistances
• Coronary blood flow is inversely related to coronary resistance
• Epicardial vessels are direct conduits and no resistance
• R2 is seat of coronary resistance
Resistance in series and Ohm’s law
R1:Epicardial vessel and resistance is zero in health
R2:Precapillary arteriole =Auto regulation site=the seat of
Coronary resistance in health
R3:Intra myocardial capillary resistance is affected by systole
And diastole

Resistance determinants
1. size of individual vessels (length and diameter)
2. Organization of the vascular network (series and parallel)
3. Physical characteristics of the blood (viscosity, laminar flow
versus turbulent flow)
4. Extravascular mechanical forces acting upon the vasculature
The seat of coronary resistance
• Precapillary arterioles[R1] connect the epicardial arteries to the
myocardial capillaries and are the primary determinants of coronary
resistance and flow
Microvasculature
• The myocardial capillary bed after Precapillary arterioles forms an
extensive network connecting each myocyte, often referred to as the
microvasculature
Coronary flow reserve (CFR)
• Ratio of maximum hyperaemic flow to resting flow
• X2-5 is normal
• Epicardial stenosis > 60% (diameter) limits maximal CBF in rest &work
• Stenosis >80% impairs resting blood flow
TIMI FLOW GRADE
• Raw and qualitative
Angiographic Flow Estimation

Grade

TFG

MBG/TPG

0

No antegrade flow beyond the
lesion.

Minimal or no or opacification (“blush”) of the
myocardium in distribution of culprit artery

1

Contrast passes beyond lesion but
fails to opacify entire coronary
bed.

Myocardial blush in distribution of culprit lesion
that fails to clear from microvasculature (contrast
staining present on next injection (~30 seconds).

2

Contrast passes beyond lesion
opacifies distal coronary bed but
rate of entry and/or rate of
clearance slower than comparable
areas not perfused by the culprit
vessel.

There is myocardial blush in the distribution of
the culprit lesion that is strongly persistent at the
end of the washout phase (after 3 cardiac cycles
of the washout phase and either does not or only
minimally diminishes in intensity during
washout).

3

Antegrade flow into the bed distal
to lesion occurs as promptly as
into the bed proximal to the
obstruction and clearance of
contrast material from the
involved bed is as rapid as from an
uninvolved vascular bed.

Myocardial blush in distribution of culprit lesion
clears normally and is either gone or only
mildly/moderately persistent at end of washout
phase (after 3 cardiac cycles of the washout phase
and noticeably diminishes in intensity during the
washout phase) similar to that in an uninvolved
artery. Blush that is of only mild intensity
throughout the washout phase but fades
minimally is also classified as grade 3.
TIMI Frame Count: Epicardial coronary
 Number of cine frames required for radiographic contrast to reach a
standardized distal coronary landmark in the culprit vessel in a single
scene
 CTFC is normalized to the TFC to the LAD
 Better than TIMI flow grades
 Normal CTFC is less than 20
 CTFC of up to 40 is seen in TIMI 3 flow implies vessel is diseased
 High CTFC despite an open epicardial artery in the setting of AMI is
thought to represent microvascular obstruction or dysfunction
TIMI myocardial perfusion grade (TMPG)
 TMPG is a semi quantitative
 Zwolle Myocardial Infarction Study Group in the Netherlands
 Blood flow in capillary
 Best angiographic projection to visualizes subtends myocardium of
interest
 Images are obtained with adequate injection allowing reflux of contrast
into the aortic root
 Injection is stopped after opacification of the coronary sinus
 Cineangiography is continued until three cardiac cycles after myocardial
blush begins to
 Poor TMPG is poor outcome despite TIMI III epicardial flow
Andreas Gruentzig in 1978
First to directly measure Pd
Degree stenosis
 First coronary balloon catheters with side holes
This old gold tech was the forerunner of FFR
Sensing using a Intra coronary wire
 Senses pressure/ Doppler/temperature
 0.014” sensory angioplasty guide wire
 Intravenous heparin (40-60 IU/Kg)
 Intracoronary NTG
 Measure pressure and flow
 Quantify stenosis, assess the microvascular circulation, and gauge the
physiologic response to mechanical or pharmacologic interventions
FFR
Couples hemodynamic and anatomy
Direct Coronary Pressure Measurement
Detects pressure loss distal to obstruction
Ratio of the maximal flow to the myocardium in the presence of a
coronary stenosis normalized to the theoretical maximal flow in the
same artery without a Stenosis
 Normal FFR is 1.0
<0.75 is intervention
0.75-0.80 is grey zone
Types of FFR
FFR myocardium

FFR coronary

FFR collateral:CFI

RELATION

(Pd –Pv) / (Pa – Pv)

(Pd – Pw) / (Pa – Pw)

(Pocc – CVP)/Pa – CVP)

FFRcor + FFRcollateral

Pd, Pa, Pv, Pw and Pocc are the mean distal, aortic, venous,wedge pressures and coronary pressure distal to occlusion
Coronary Flow Reserve
 Known as coronary vasodilatory reserve (CVR)
 Ratio of maximal to basal coronary flow in same artery
 No longer routinely used because of several limitations
 Doppler or thermodilution methods
 CFR=epicardial+ microvascular resistance
 Normal CFR > 3.0
 CFR of <2.0 =ischemia
FFR vs. CFR
FFR

CFR

 Wide clinical application
 Measure for microvascular resistance
 Limitations
 Limitations: affected by in BP,HR and other factor
1.Assumes microvascular resistance is nil but it is
affecting microvascular function
never so
2.Assumes pressure α flow but really it is relation
is curvilinear
Microvascular Resistance Measurements
• Newer concept
• Called index of microvascular resistance (IMR)
• Method: combination pressure and thermo dilution
• Principle: Ohm’s law like FFR
• Epicardial vessel is almost normal/opened spontaneously or by PCI
• Reproducible
• Less hemodynamic dependence
Applied
• Intermediated stenois
• Bifurcation
• LMCA
• Multivessel disease
• Serial stenosis
• Microvascular disease
• Heart Failure
Intermediated stenosis
• Defer PCI if trans-stenotic gradient (<25 mmHg) or Doppler-derived
CFR >1.7 after IV adenosine
• DEFER trial: Defer PCI if FFR>0.75
• COURAGE(using SPECT) and FAME-2(FFR) agree upon deferring PCI if
FFR>0.8
LMCA:R1 disease
A FFR cut off >0.8 do equally well on medical management or CABG
Multivessel disease and FFR
 Reduces number of stents[FAME ]
 No survival benefit revascularising FFR<0.75 of single stenosis
 MACE are more with intervention
 Revascularisation approach PCI vs. CABG is modified
 Functional SYNTAX score improves the management style
Bifurcation Stenting
 Provisional stenting ruled in/out
 Intervening on the “jailed” side branch only if FFR < 0.75: kissing
balloon/stenting
Serial stenosis or diffuse disease
 2 lesions in series impair maximal flow
 Pd/Pa of each one interdependence
 Pullback and first Rx largest step-up if both have FFR <0.8
 Equal step up,Rx distal first
 Check FFR of residual before conclusion
Heart failure:R3 is affected
 Extent of functional myocardium and related vessel
 Heterogeneous microvascular bed
 Few capillary beds to dilate
 FFR=1 regardless of the severity of the lesion
 If artery supplies a large Δ of myocardium outside of the normal
distribution via collateral circulation, FFR may reach ischemic
thresholds
 ↑ LVEDP may lead to underestimation of true FFR
Coronary physiology

Coronary physiology

  • 1.
  • 2.
  • 3.
  • 4.
    Measurement of coronaryfunction Non invasive measurement Invasive measure MR CT PET CAG IVUS OCT FFR CFR FFR IS GOLD STANDARD
  • 5.
    The bottle neckof CAG Poor correlation of physiologic ischemia The reason : minimal luminal dimensions and area, stenosis length, exit and entrance angles, reference vessel diameter, and diffuse coronary narrowing
  • 6.
    intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) Someimprovement upon the decision of removing stenosis but not satisfactory
  • 7.
    Auto regulation limit Maintainmyocardial perfusion in systolic BP=60-180 mmHg
  • 8.
    Auto regulation failurealarm  Angina or equivalent  Myocardial hibernation  Myocardial stunning  Myocardial infarction
  • 9.
    Unique metabolism incardiac muscle • Myocardial blood flow α the balance of myocardial oxygen (MVO2) demand and supply • Heart assimilates from instantaneous oxidation of FFA, glucose, lactate, pyruvate, and amino acids • ATP is produced and consumed and no storage • No oxygen debt as seen in skeletal muscle • Any compromise in substrate=blood flow switch on alarm of energy conservation of energy for the maintenance of cellular function • Mechanical work is impaired =RWMA • Myocardial sleeps in “hibernation” or death(MI)
  • 10.
    ATP sharing areas •Basal cellular metabolism: 20% • myocardial force generation: 80%
  • 11.
    MVO2[/min O2 incardiac muscle] α CBF Sales • cardiac myocyte shortening • contractility • Relaxation • myocardial wall tension • heart rate 1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr
  • 12.
    Coronary collaterals imply •Attenuate the degree of ischemia • Degree of collaterals is variable[number,size and location] • Chronic severe stenosis • Less long term mortality
  • 13.
    Coronary resistance • ΣEpicardial+precapillaryarteriole+ myocardial capillary resistances • Coronary blood flow is inversely related to coronary resistance • Epicardial vessels are direct conduits and no resistance • R2 is seat of coronary resistance
  • 14.
    Resistance in seriesand Ohm’s law R1:Epicardial vessel and resistance is zero in health R2:Precapillary arteriole =Auto regulation site=the seat of Coronary resistance in health R3:Intra myocardial capillary resistance is affected by systole And diastole Resistance determinants 1. size of individual vessels (length and diameter) 2. Organization of the vascular network (series and parallel) 3. Physical characteristics of the blood (viscosity, laminar flow versus turbulent flow) 4. Extravascular mechanical forces acting upon the vasculature
  • 15.
    The seat ofcoronary resistance • Precapillary arterioles[R1] connect the epicardial arteries to the myocardial capillaries and are the primary determinants of coronary resistance and flow
  • 16.
    Microvasculature • The myocardialcapillary bed after Precapillary arterioles forms an extensive network connecting each myocyte, often referred to as the microvasculature
  • 17.
    Coronary flow reserve(CFR) • Ratio of maximum hyperaemic flow to resting flow • X2-5 is normal • Epicardial stenosis > 60% (diameter) limits maximal CBF in rest &work • Stenosis >80% impairs resting blood flow
  • 19.
    TIMI FLOW GRADE •Raw and qualitative
  • 20.
    Angiographic Flow Estimation Grade TFG MBG/TPG 0 Noantegrade flow beyond the lesion. Minimal or no or opacification (“blush”) of the myocardium in distribution of culprit artery 1 Contrast passes beyond lesion but fails to opacify entire coronary bed. Myocardial blush in distribution of culprit lesion that fails to clear from microvasculature (contrast staining present on next injection (~30 seconds). 2 Contrast passes beyond lesion opacifies distal coronary bed but rate of entry and/or rate of clearance slower than comparable areas not perfused by the culprit vessel. There is myocardial blush in the distribution of the culprit lesion that is strongly persistent at the end of the washout phase (after 3 cardiac cycles of the washout phase and either does not or only minimally diminishes in intensity during washout). 3 Antegrade flow into the bed distal to lesion occurs as promptly as into the bed proximal to the obstruction and clearance of contrast material from the involved bed is as rapid as from an uninvolved vascular bed. Myocardial blush in distribution of culprit lesion clears normally and is either gone or only mildly/moderately persistent at end of washout phase (after 3 cardiac cycles of the washout phase and noticeably diminishes in intensity during the washout phase) similar to that in an uninvolved artery. Blush that is of only mild intensity throughout the washout phase but fades minimally is also classified as grade 3.
  • 21.
    TIMI Frame Count:Epicardial coronary  Number of cine frames required for radiographic contrast to reach a standardized distal coronary landmark in the culprit vessel in a single scene  CTFC is normalized to the TFC to the LAD  Better than TIMI flow grades  Normal CTFC is less than 20  CTFC of up to 40 is seen in TIMI 3 flow implies vessel is diseased  High CTFC despite an open epicardial artery in the setting of AMI is thought to represent microvascular obstruction or dysfunction
  • 22.
    TIMI myocardial perfusiongrade (TMPG)  TMPG is a semi quantitative  Zwolle Myocardial Infarction Study Group in the Netherlands  Blood flow in capillary  Best angiographic projection to visualizes subtends myocardium of interest  Images are obtained with adequate injection allowing reflux of contrast into the aortic root  Injection is stopped after opacification of the coronary sinus  Cineangiography is continued until three cardiac cycles after myocardial blush begins to  Poor TMPG is poor outcome despite TIMI III epicardial flow
  • 23.
    Andreas Gruentzig in1978 First to directly measure Pd Degree stenosis  First coronary balloon catheters with side holes This old gold tech was the forerunner of FFR
  • 24.
    Sensing using aIntra coronary wire  Senses pressure/ Doppler/temperature  0.014” sensory angioplasty guide wire  Intravenous heparin (40-60 IU/Kg)  Intracoronary NTG  Measure pressure and flow  Quantify stenosis, assess the microvascular circulation, and gauge the physiologic response to mechanical or pharmacologic interventions
  • 25.
    FFR Couples hemodynamic andanatomy Direct Coronary Pressure Measurement Detects pressure loss distal to obstruction Ratio of the maximal flow to the myocardium in the presence of a coronary stenosis normalized to the theoretical maximal flow in the same artery without a Stenosis  Normal FFR is 1.0 <0.75 is intervention 0.75-0.80 is grey zone
  • 26.
    Types of FFR FFRmyocardium FFR coronary FFR collateral:CFI RELATION (Pd –Pv) / (Pa – Pv) (Pd – Pw) / (Pa – Pw) (Pocc – CVP)/Pa – CVP) FFRcor + FFRcollateral Pd, Pa, Pv, Pw and Pocc are the mean distal, aortic, venous,wedge pressures and coronary pressure distal to occlusion
  • 27.
    Coronary Flow Reserve Known as coronary vasodilatory reserve (CVR)  Ratio of maximal to basal coronary flow in same artery  No longer routinely used because of several limitations  Doppler or thermodilution methods  CFR=epicardial+ microvascular resistance  Normal CFR > 3.0  CFR of <2.0 =ischemia
  • 28.
    FFR vs. CFR FFR CFR Wide clinical application  Measure for microvascular resistance  Limitations  Limitations: affected by in BP,HR and other factor 1.Assumes microvascular resistance is nil but it is affecting microvascular function never so 2.Assumes pressure α flow but really it is relation is curvilinear
  • 29.
    Microvascular Resistance Measurements •Newer concept • Called index of microvascular resistance (IMR) • Method: combination pressure and thermo dilution • Principle: Ohm’s law like FFR • Epicardial vessel is almost normal/opened spontaneously or by PCI • Reproducible • Less hemodynamic dependence
  • 30.
    Applied • Intermediated stenois •Bifurcation • LMCA • Multivessel disease • Serial stenosis • Microvascular disease • Heart Failure
  • 31.
    Intermediated stenosis • DeferPCI if trans-stenotic gradient (<25 mmHg) or Doppler-derived CFR >1.7 after IV adenosine • DEFER trial: Defer PCI if FFR>0.75 • COURAGE(using SPECT) and FAME-2(FFR) agree upon deferring PCI if FFR>0.8
  • 32.
    LMCA:R1 disease A FFRcut off >0.8 do equally well on medical management or CABG
  • 33.
    Multivessel disease andFFR  Reduces number of stents[FAME ]  No survival benefit revascularising FFR<0.75 of single stenosis  MACE are more with intervention  Revascularisation approach PCI vs. CABG is modified  Functional SYNTAX score improves the management style
  • 34.
    Bifurcation Stenting  Provisionalstenting ruled in/out  Intervening on the “jailed” side branch only if FFR < 0.75: kissing balloon/stenting
  • 35.
    Serial stenosis ordiffuse disease  2 lesions in series impair maximal flow  Pd/Pa of each one interdependence  Pullback and first Rx largest step-up if both have FFR <0.8  Equal step up,Rx distal first  Check FFR of residual before conclusion
  • 36.
    Heart failure:R3 isaffected  Extent of functional myocardium and related vessel  Heterogeneous microvascular bed  Few capillary beds to dilate  FFR=1 regardless of the severity of the lesion  If artery supplies a large Δ of myocardium outside of the normal distribution via collateral circulation, FFR may reach ischemic thresholds  ↑ LVEDP may lead to underestimation of true FFR