Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) is a diagnostic technique used in cardiac catheterisation to measure blood flow and pressure in a specific segment of the coronary artery. Cardiologists typically perform this procedure to determine if angioplasty and stenting are necessary for a coronary artery. At Apollo Hospitals in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, our expert doctors conduct this evidence-based procedure with precision.
What is Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR)?
Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) measures how well blood flows through a narrowed section of a coronary artery compared to a normal artery. A normal FFR is 1.0, while a reading below 0.75-0.80 may indicate reduced blood flow to the heart muscle, which can cause chest pain or other symptoms.
How is FFR calculated?
The FFR measures the blood flow ratio in a narrowed (stenosed) artery to the maximum possible flow in the same artery if it were normal. It accounts for various factors affecting blood flow, like the length and severity of the blockage and any collateral blood flow.
If the FFR shows a significant drop in blood flow due to a blockage, the blockage is considered significant. FFR is often used alongside a conventional angiogram, especially when the extent of a blockage is not clear or when stress testing has not been done.
Before the Procedure
Before the FFR procedure, patients receive an injection of radioactive material to help visualise the blood flow in a targeted area of the body. Once imaging is completed, a local anaesthetic is given, and a small incision is made.
What Happens During the FFR Procedure?
During the Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) procedure, a catheter is inserted into a coronary artery to measure blood flow and assess the severity of any narrowing. Unlike standard cardiac catheterisation, FFR specifically evaluates the fractional flow across a stenosis to estimate the degree of obstruction in the coronary arteries. The procedure, which is similar to coronary angiography, is painless and can be performed in a hospital or outpatient setting. It is often combined with other cardiac diagnostic tests to provide a more detailed assessment of coronary artery disease.
After the Procedure
After an FFR procedure, patients are usually monitored in the hospital for several hours. Some may experience chest pain afterward, likely due to vasoconstriction caused by medications used during the procedure. If patients experience dizziness or fainting after the procedure, they should contact their doctor.
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