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Evaluate the Health of Your Heart:
What is FFR on Scan?

Reserve Flow Fraction (FFR) on CT: A Non-Invasive Revolution in Coronary Assessment

Cardiovascular health is a major issue in the modern world, and the search for accurate and safe diagnostic techniques is essential. Flow Reserve Fraction (FFR) on CT is positioned as a significant advance in the evaluation of coronary stenoses, offering a non-invasive method to determine the impact of these strictures on blood flow. This article explores the principles, benefits and clinical implications of FFR on CT.

What is FFR on Scanner?

FFR is a physiological index that assesses the reduction in blood flow through a narrowed coronary artery. When measured on a scanner, this technique combines images from a coronary scanner (CT-scan) with computer modeling to estimate blood flow, thus making it possible to determine the functional severity of coronary stenoses.

What can the FFR reveal to the Scanner?

The Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) can reveal several crucial pieces of information about a patient's heart health. Here is what an FFR can indicate:

1. Severity of Coronary Stenoses

  • The FFR measures the reduction in blood flow through a narrowed coronary artery.
    An FFR less than 0.80 suggests that a stenosis is functionally significant and may require intervention, such as angioplasty or bypass surgery.

2. Functional Assessment of Stenoses

  • In addition to showing the presence of strictures, the FFR helps determine whether these strictures actually affect blood flow. This helps differentiate between strictures that require treatment and those that can be monitored.

3. Risk of Heart Disease

  • A low FFR may indicate an increased risk of heart complications, such as heart attacks, due to inadequate blood flow through the heart.

4. Guidance of Therapeutic Interventions

  • FFR results help doctors make informed decisions about what type of treatment to pursue. This may include choosing between surgery, angioplasty, or medical treatment.

5. Patient Monitoring

  • For patients with a history of coronary heart disease, regular monitoring of the FFR can help monitor the progress of their condition and adjust treatment accordingly.

6. Optimization of Care Resources

By precisely identifying functionally significant stenoses, the FFR helps to avoid unnecessary interventions, thus optimizing the care pathway for the patient.
FFR is an essential tool for assessing coronary function, guiding treatment decisions, and improving management of patients with cardiac disease.

The Advantages of FFR with Scanner

1. Non-Invasiveness

  • Unlike FFR measured during invasive coronary angiography, FFR on CT does not require an intracoronary catheter or interventional procedures. This significantly reduces risks for the patient, such as complications related to invasive procedures and anesthesia.

2. Diagnostic Accuracy

  • FFR on CT can accurately determine whether a visually detected stenosis is severe enough to restrict blood flow. This ability to differentiate is crucial in guiding treatment decisions, whether opting for angioplasty or choosing medical treatment.

3. Improvement of the Care Pathway

  • By reliably identifying functionally significant stenoses, CT FFR helps avoid unnecessary invasive examinations. This helps optimize care by reducing unnecessary interventions and focusing resources on patients who really need them.

4. Saving Time and Cost

  • FFR on CT simultaneously provides anatomical and functional information in a single examination. This reduces diagnostic times, reduces the number of necessary examinations and, consequently, the costs associated with care.

Who is the FFR for?

Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) is recommended for patients with signs of coronary heart disease, such as:

  • Those with a history of chest pain (angina).
  • Patients who have undergone imaging examination showing coronary stenoses.
  • People at high risk of heart disease, such as those with diabetes or a family history of cardiovascular disease. The FFR is a valuable tool for physicians to determine the need for additional intervention.

When to worry about your heart?

It is important to watch out for certain symptoms that may indicate heart problems. Here are some warning signs not to ignore:

  • Chest pain or pressure in the chest.
  • Unusual shortness of breath or excessive fatigue.
  • Heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat.
  • Dizziness or fainting.

Questions to ask yourself:

  • Do you have a family history of heart disease?
  • Have you recently experienced chest pain or shortness of breath?
  • Could your lifestyle (diet, physical activity) affect your heart health?

If you experience any of these symptoms or have concerns about your heart health, don't hesitate to speak with your doctor. Early assessment can make all the difference to your well-being.

Conclusion

FFR on CT represents a major advance in the diagnosis of coronary heart disease. By offering a precise and non-invasive assessment of the coronary arteries, it contributes to more effective patient care. The combination of high precision, non-invasiveness and optimization of the care pathway makes FFR on CT a preferred option in the field of modern cardiology.

This technique not only improves clinical outcomes, but it also minimizes the risks associated with invasive procedures, making cardiology care safer and more accessible for all patients. As technology continues to evolve, CT-based FFR promises to further transform how coronary heart disease is diagnosed and treated. 

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