Identification of Coronary Artery Side Branch Supplying Myocardial Mass That May Benefit From Revascularization

The authors sought to identify whether a coronary side branch (SB) is supplying a myocardial mass that may benefit from revascularization.

The amount of subtending myocardium and physiological stenosis is frequently different between the main vessel (MV) and SB.

In this multicenter registry, 482 patients who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography and fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurement were enrolled. The % fractional myocardial mass (FMM), the ratio of vessel-specific myocardial mass to whole myocardium, was assessed in 5,860 MV or SB consisting of 2,930 bifurcations. Physiological stenosis was defined by fractional flow reserve (FFR) <0.80. Myocardial mass that may benefit from revascularization was defined by %FMM ≥10%.

In per-bifurcation analysis, MV supplied a 1.5- to 9-fold larger myocardial mass compared with SB. Unlike left main bifurcation (n = 482), only 1 of every 5 non-left main SB (n = 2,448) supplied %FMM ≥10% (97% vs. 21%; p < 0.001). SB length ≥73 mm could estimate %FMM ≥10% (c-statistic = 0.85; p < 0.001). In 604 vessels interrogated by FFR, diameter stenosis was similar (p = NS), but %FMM ≥10%, FMM/minimal luminal diameter, and frequency of FFR <0.80 was higher in MV compared with SB (p < 0.001, all). Generalized estimating equations modeling demonstrate that vessel diameter, left myocardial mass, and FFR were not (p = NS), but SB length ≥73 mm and left main bifurcation were significant predictors for %FMM ≥10% (p < 0.001).

Compared with MV, SB supplies a smaller myocardial mass and showed less physiological severity despite similar stenosis severity. SB supplying a myocardial mass of %FMM≥10%, which may benefit revascularization could be identified by vessel length ≥73 mm. Pre-procedural recognition of these findings may guide optimal revascularization strategy for bifurcation.