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Understanding Fractional Flow Reserve

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Physiological Assessment of Coronary Stenoses and the Microcirculation

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Abstract

Invasive functional evaluation of epicardial coronary stenoses is increasingly utilized in order to target treatment of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) to ischemia-producing lesions. Fractional flow reserve (FFR) has been validated against noninvasive stress testing showing high accuracy for the detection of ischemia-producing coronary stenoses, and its use is currently recommended in the guidelines for myocardial revascularization. However, an appropriate understanding of the basic principles and assumptions leading to FFR calculation is necessary in order to guide patient management. In this chapter, we describe the principles, validation process, and practicalities of this technique, with the aim of emphasizing some important aspects to bear in mind when using FFR for the management of patients with CAD during daily clinical practice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy

    Antonio Maria Leone, Giancarla Scalone & Giampaolo Niccoli

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  1. Antonio Maria Leone
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  2. Giancarla Scalone
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  3. Giampaolo Niccoli
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  1. Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Javier Escaned

  2. Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom

    Justin Davies

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Leone, A.M., Scalone, G., Niccoli, G. (2017). Understanding Fractional Flow Reserve. In: Escaned, J., Davies, J. (eds) Physiological Assessment of Coronary Stenoses and the Microcirculation. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-5245-3_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-5245-3_14

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