title: Angiographic assessment of microvascular perfusion--myocardial blush in clinical practice.
abstract: Assessment of myocardial "blush" by either Myocardial Blush Grade or TIMI Myocardial Perfusion Grade, is the angiographic method currently preferred to confirm myocardial tissue-level perfusion after primary percutaneous intervention. This review focuses on the utility of angiographic "blush" as a simple, widely available, and virtually costless technique for the immediate diagnosis of microvascular impairment at the time of acute catheterization. We comprehensively outline the available evidence behind the "blush," its use in clinical practice, and draw comparisons with other new technologies for assessment of microvascular integrity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. italo.porto@gmail.com
authors.forename: Italo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Porto
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hamilton-Craig
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brancati
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Burzotta
authors.forename: Leonarda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Galiuto
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Crea
mesh_terms: D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008833:Microcirculation; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index