Fractional Flow Reserve
Fractional flow reserve is the simple ratio of the maximum achievable flow of the diseased coronary artery to the flow of blood in the normal artery. This determines whether the flow of your blood is healthy or not. A healthy and a normal flow of the blood is considered as 1.0. This can easily be measured by the process using a pressure wire. Due to the fraction form, we get a brief idea about how bad the blood flow is from the normal. Fractional Flow Reserve In Gurgaon is the procedure done to measure the difference in pressure between the coronary arteries to determine the oxygen to the heart muscles.
If the blood flow is limited, then there can be a number of heart-related problems. When there are severe problems of coronary artery stenosis, then the best heart specialist looks at the diagnostic reports and suggests the best treatment option. The major treatment options include angioplasty, stenting as well as coronary bypass surgery. The decision is taken by studying the symptoms and the coronary tree. When the image of angioplasty is not clear to make any decision, then FFR is used to know the exact location of the lesion.
On obtaining the fractional flow reserve ratio, one can also get the idea of whether the coronary artery is working well or not. Before the FFR, all the risks as well as benefits and explained by the cardiologist to the patient. After the FFR helps to determine the intermediate blockage which is the reason for reduced flow of the blood. After FFR, what angioplasty does is it removes the blockage, brings the blood flow to a normal level and hence relieves chest pain of the patient. Hence, the ratio of FFR can be used to determine whether a person should go for angioplasty or not. If the ratio is below 1.0, then the person needs medical treatment. While it is almost around 1.0, then the complications, as well as the symptoms, can be treated by medications. Therefore, for the precise value, a person should make sure that they visit a proper clinic or a laboratory to get their FFR test done.
How is FFR measured?
The measurement of FFR is not that complicated and can be easily measured without any anesthesia. After making the patient comfortable, the process is made to begin. To start with, the best cardiologist passes the guidewire to the coronary artery to look at the same and to record the blood flow over there. This microcatheter is also equipped with a pressure sensor to measure the pressure of the blood inside the coronary artery. Under suitable conditions, the relationship and the ratio of blood flow pressure in stenosis and the blood flow pressure in the aorta are measured. Hence, in this manner, the ratio value of FFR is obtained and then predictions, as well as conclusions, can be made according to the value. The value which is obtained is highly relevant and reliable as well.
For the FFR value 0.75, the patients often experience average chest pain. Above the value of 0.80, the patients are often considered safe and their symptoms can be treated by some simple medications. On the other hand, for the values below 0.75, the patients require some kind of medical treatment based on their complications. Moreover, for the best cardiac treatment, you must visit the top cardiologist in the town. The FFR test must also be done at some best heart hospitals to ensure accurate as well as reliable results.
