Myocardial perfusion during transient slow-flow in the patient with old vein graft intervention: Assessment by serial measurement of pressure-derived fractional flow reserve and thermodilution-derived coronary flow reserve

A patient with distal slow-flow after stenting in the old vein graft intervention was reported. This case is a first in whom guidewire-based serial measurement of pressure-derived fractional flow reserve (FFRmyo) and thermodilution-based coronary flow reserve (CFRthermo) clearly demonstrated the serial change of microvascular circulation. During slow-flow, CFRthermo remained in low value despite significant improvement of FFRmyo from 0.61 to 0.90. After thrombus aspiration and nicorandil injection, coronary flow reestablished immediately. CFRthermo improved significantly from 1.3 during slow-flow to 3.6 after restoration of flow. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv 2003;60:392–398. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.