[Measurement of coronary flow and flow reserve with transthoracic echocardiography: an old concept, a new tool, a lot of applications].
Non invasive evaluation of coronary flow and flow reserve by using transthoracic echocardiography is a promising method for evaluating coronary disease. Left anterior descending and right posterior descending coronary flow are accessible in the majority of patients. This technique is useful in various settings: detection of coronary artery stenosis, coronary occlusion, follow up after percutaneous coronary intervention, evaluation of the significance of coronary stenosis of intermediate severity, evaluation of the microcirculation, study of reperfusion and no reflow in the acute phase of myocardial infarction, evaluation of bypass grafts, improvement of the diagnostic accuracy during stress echocardiography. After a period of training, it's possible to change an old concept, formerly not easily accessible in clinical practice, into a useful and modern tool for evaluating coronary artery disease.
Meimoun
P
P
Service de cardiologie, centre hospitalier de Compiègne, 8, rue Henri-Adnot, 60200 Compiègne, France. pmeimoun001@ch-compiegne.rss.fr
Sayah
S
S
Maitre
B
B
Bore
A L
AL
Benali
T
T
Beausoleil
M
M
Bailly
J
J
D003326:Coronary Circulation; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D006801:Humans; D012039:Regional Blood Flow