title: Invasive assessment of the coronary microcirculation in the catheter laboratory.
abstract: Historically much of our understanding of the coronary circulation has been centered towards the epicardial vessels. However, recent work has highlighted the importance of the coronary microcirculation across a broad spectrum of clinical conditions in influencing patient outcomes. Therefore an ability to measure microvascular function is most valuable. While evaluation of the epicardial coronary circulation is widely understood, interrogation of the coronary microcirculation is more complex. Many methods are available to assess the integrity of the microcirculation in the catheter laboratory. This review will discuss the physiology of the coronary microcirculation and evaluate the utility of available invasive techniques.
authors.affiliation: West of Scotland Heart and Lung Centre, Golden Jubilee Hospital, Clydebank, Scotland, United Kingdom; BHF Glasgow Cardiovascular Research Centre, Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom; Department of Cardiology St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia; Department of Cardiology, Peninsula Health, Frankston, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: Jlayland@phcn.vic.gov.au.
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Layland
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Peninsula Health, Frankston, Victoria, Australia; MonashHeart, MonashHealth, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Nitesh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nerlekar
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia; Department of Cardiology, Peninsula Health, Frankston, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Sonny
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.affiliation: West of Scotland Heart and Lung Centre, Golden Jubilee Hospital, Clydebank, Scotland, United Kingdom; BHF Glasgow Cardiovascular Research Centre, Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Berry
authors.affiliation: West of Scotland Heart and Lung Centre, Golden Jubilee Hospital, Clydebank, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oldroyd
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D057785:Catheters / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004452:Echocardiography; D004727:Endothelium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000502:physiology*; D063868:Patient Outcome Assessment; D062645:Percutaneous Coronary Intervention / Q000009:adverse effects; D010496:Pericardium / Q000473:pathology; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods
keywords: Invasive; Microcirculation; PCI