Pitfalls in Coronary Pressure Measurement

Abstract

As with every new technique, the cardiologist starting to perform coronary pressure measurements by wire technology will face some potential pitfalls which may lead to erroneous results or misinterpretation of data. Most of these pitfalls are easily recognized, a few are more tricky. There are some pitfalls specifically related to the equipment, to the guiding catheter used, to the use of the different hyperemic stimuli, and to specific physiologic or pathophysiologic conditions. Most of these pitfalls are easily avoided once the operator is aware of them.