Detection, location, and severity assessment of left anterior descending coronary artery stenoses by means of contrast-enhanced transthoracic harmonic echo Doppler

Abstract

Blood flow velocity evaluation in the LAD by means of transthoracic ED is feasible and reliable in detecting, locating, and assessing the severity of LAD stenosis.

Multiparametric carotid and cardiac ultrasound compared with clinical risk scores for the prediction of angiographic coronary artery disease

“…Selective coronary flow velocity mapping by echocardiography, ranging from the proximal to distal LAD coronary artery, has been described to provide information on the functional status of coronary circulation [26]. A LAD flow velocity higher than 50-70 cm/s was considered a pathological finding in accordance with the previous results [32].…”

“…To date, there are different imaging modalities aimed at identifying organ damage, among which ultrasound proved to be a valuable tool to assess atherosclerotic disease, as it may provide noninvasive information regarding organ damage, at relatively low cost and without radiation safety issues. Established or promising ultrasound variables in this regard are carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) [11][12][13][14][15], arterial stiffness assessed by carotid pulse wave velocity (cPWV) [16][17][18][19][20], semiquantitative score of cardiac calcifications [21,22], global myocardial longitudinal strain (GLS) [23][24][25], and rest Doppler flow velocity on the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery [26].…”

Prognostic Value of Coronary Flow Reserve Obtained on Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography and its Correlation with Target Heart Rate

“…Those results support the measurement of CFVR during pharmacologic stress echocardiography, favoring its incorporation into routine practice. 10,12-15,25,26 …”

Assessment of Coronary Flow During Stress Testing: Does it Add Diagnostic and Prognostic Value?

“…Velocities >1.5 m/s suggest significant stenosis [24]; in addition, the relation between the flow velocity in the proximal left vessels and the distal flow in the LAD has good sensitivity and specificity to detect significant obstructions when proximal flow velocities double the velocity of distal segments [25]. A 100% increase in diastolic velocity compared with the velocity in a proximal adjacent segment of the same artery suggests significant stenosis (Fig.…”