Coronary pressure measurements in post‐myocardial infarction patients

Abstract

The development of pressure monitoring guide‐wires has facilitated the measurements of coronary pressures distal to a stenosis. The ratio of the distal coronary and aortic pressures (P_d/P_a) measured during maximal hyperaemia is a useful index for diagnosis and monitoring the treatment of patients with coronary artery disease and for guiding percutaneous coronary intervention. However, the role of coronary pressure measurements in post‐ myocardial infarction (MI) patients is not well established. Coronary pressure measurements should be used with caution during the acute phase of MI due to serious micro‐vascular impairment. The hyperaemic pressure P_d/P_a ratio can identify ischaemic myocardial territories in patients with recent MI. Theoretically, coronary pressure measurements may be of value in predicting myocardial recovery after revascularization in post‐MI patients with a moderate stenosis of the infarct‐related artery and without angiographically evident collaterals.

• Coronary pressure measurements
• fractional flow reserve
• myocardial infarction
• myocardial viability