Fractional flow reserve calculation from 3-dimensional quantitative coronary angiography and TIMI frame count: a fast computer model to quantify the functional significance of moderately obstructed coronary arteries.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to present a novel computer model for fast computation of myocardial fractional flow reserve (FFR) and to evaluate it in patients with intermediate coronary stenoses.
BACKGROUND: FFR is an indispensable tool to identify individual coronary stenoses causing ischemia. Calculation of FFR from x-ray angiographic data may increase the utility of FFR assessment.
METHODS: Consecutive patients with intermediate coronary stenoses undergoing pressure wire-based FFR measurements were analyzed by a core laboratory. Three-dimensional quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) was performed and the mean volumetric flow rate at hyperemia was calculated using TIMI (Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction) frame count combined with 3-dimensional QCA. Computational fluid dynamics was applied subsequently with a novel strategy for the computation of FFR. Diagnostic performance of the computed FFR (FFRQCA) was assessed using wire-based FFR as reference standard.
RESULTS: Computation of FFRQCA was performed on 77 vessels in 68 patients. Average diameter stenosis was 46.6 ± 7.3%. FFRQCA correlated well with FFR (r = 0.81, p < 0.001), with a mean difference of 0.00 ± 0.06 (p = 0.541). Applying the FFR cutoff value of ≤0.8 to FFRQCA resulted in 18 true positives, 50 true negatives, 4 false positives, and 5 false negatives. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve was 0.93 for FFRQCA, 0.73 for minimum lumen area, and 0.65 for percent diameter stenosis.
CONCLUSIONS: Computation of FFRQCA is a novel method that allows the assessment of the functional significance of intermediate stenosis. It may emerge as a safe, efficient, and cost-reducing tool for evaluation of coronary stenosis severity during diagnostic angiography.