Coronary Physiology Assessment for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Stable Ischemic Heart Disease

Coronary artery disease is the most prevalent cardiovascular disease in the USA. In the majority of settings, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for stable coronary artery disease (CAD) reduces angina and improves quality of life; however, it does not improve survival and is associated with infrequent but serious complications. Selection of appropriate patients and coronary lesions for revascularization with PCI is crucial to maximize the benefit-to-risk ratio. The assessment of the hemodynamic significance of intermediate coronary lesions has been shown to improve outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. The current review summarizes the existing evidence regarding the physiological assessment of coronary lesions, with emphasis on fractional flow reserve, the most common invasive hemodynamic assessment modality.