Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR)

Fractional flow reserve (FFR) is a technique used in cardiac catheterization to measure pressure differences across a coronary artery stenosis. Fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurement involves determining the ratio between the maximum achievable blood flow in a diseased coronary artery and the theoretical maximum flow in a normal coronary artery to determine the likelihood that the stenosis impedes oxygen delivery to the heart muscle.

fractional-flow-reserve

An FFR of 1.0 is widely accepted as normal. An FFR lower than 0.75-0.80 is generally considered to be associated with myocardial ischemia.

Indications for FFR measurement are as follows:

  • To determine the physiologic and hemodynamic significance of an angiographically intermediate coronary stenosis
  • To identify appropriate culprit lesion(s) in multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD)
  • To measure the functional importance of stenosis in the presence of distal collateral flow
  • To identify the precise location of a coronary lesion when the angiographic image is unclear

 

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Videos

FFR Basics: Performing an FFR Procedure - Mort Kern, MD
FFR Basics, Practice, Pitfalls - Mort Kern

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Prognostic Value of Fractional Flow Reserve
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