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Updated: Dec 25, 2025
Evaluation of Coronary Flow Reserve After Myocardial Ischemia Reperfusion in Rats
Published on: June 28, 2019
Fractional Flow Reserve-Based Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: Current Evidence and Future Directions
Cristiano Spadaccio1, David Glineur2, Emanuele Barbato3
1Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Golden Jubilee National Hospital, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
Insights
Fractional flow reserve (FFR) may simplify coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and improve graft patency. This review explores FFR
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Interventional Cardiology
Background:
- Fractional flow reserve (FFR) objectively measures coronary stenosis severity and ischemia.
- FFR-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is established in interventional cardiology.
- Evidence for FFR use in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current data on FFR-guided CABG.
- To discuss the rationale for FFR in surgical revascularization.
- To explore potential consequences of adopting FFR in CABG.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies investigating FFR in CABG.
- Analysis of data on procedural simplification and graft outcomes.
- Discussion of clinical implications and future directions.
Main Results:
- FFR may simplify CABG procedures.
- FFR use is associated with optimized arterial graft patency.
- Current data show no clear impact on clinical outcomes.
Conclusions:
- FFR shows potential for improving CABG procedures and graft outcomes.
- Further research is needed to clarify the clinical impact of FFR-guided CABG.
- A shift towards FFR-based surgical revascularization warrants careful consideration.
Abstract:
Fractional flow reserve (FFR) provides an objective measurement of the severity of ischemia caused by coronary stenoses in downstream myocardial regions. Data from the interventional cardiology realm have suggested benefits of a FFR-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) strategy. Limited evidence is available on the use of FFR to guide coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The most recent data have shown that FFR might simplify CABG procedures and optimize patency of arterial grafts without any clear impact on clinical outcomes. The aim of this review was to summarize the available data on FFR-based CABG and discuss the rationale and potential consequences of a switch toward FFR-based surgical revascularization strategy.
