IMPROVED SYSTOLIC FUNCTION AFTER PTCA CAN BE ESTIMATED BY FEMORAL ARTERIAL DOPPLER

The effect of coronary angioplasty to the post exertional femoral arte rial pulse was analyzed in a prospective trial. In 26 patients 30 coro nary stenoses could be treated. Narrowed lumen diameter dropped from 8 5.5% +/-8.2 to 34.6% +/-10.7 (P<0.0001), Patients with a residual coro nary artery stenosis of <60% (group A, n=15) were compared to those wi th incomplete revascularisation (stenoses >60%, group B, n=11), Post e xertional doppler criteria differed between both groups: Peak velocity in group A was 86.08 cm/s +/-17.8, in group B 72.9 cm/s +/-17, mean v elocity 32.06 cm/s +/-12.5 versus 23.6 cm/s +/-10.3 acceleration or dV /dt 813.5 cm/s(2) versus 722 cm/s2 +/-164. Statistical significant pre to post postexertional findings improved only in group A (P<0.01, pea k velocity, P<0.05 mean velocity and dV/dt). It is concluded that pati ents with still-existing exertional myocardial ischemia can be disting uished from those without hemodynamic relevant stenoses by means of a simple noninvasive Doppler analysis of femoral arterial pulse. (C) 199 8 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.