title: Current concepts in coronary physiology for the interventionalist.
abstract: Coronary angiography remains the 'gold standard' for the diagnosis of epicardial coronary disease. However, precise quantification of stenosis severity is limited because of the complex three-dimensional geometry of epicardial plaques. To assist the angiographer in lesion assessment, several physiologic measurements have been developed to evaluate stenosis severity, including coronary flow reserve, relative coronary flow reserve and fractional flow reserve. Physiologic lesion assessment can also be an invaluable tool in coronary intervention, evaluating efficacy of angioplasty and stent deployment.
authors.affiliation: St Louis University Health Sciences Center, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Steven C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: Amr
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El-Shafei
authors.forename: Morton J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kern
mesh_terms: D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006321:Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015607:Stents