The impact of virtual fractional flow reserve and virtual coronary intervention upon treatment decisions in the cardiac catheter laboratory

Background

Using fractional flow reserve (FFR) to guide percutaneous coronary intervention for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) improves clinical decision making but remains under-used. Virtual FFR (vFFR, computed from angiographic images) permits physiological assessment without a pressure wire and can be extended to virtual coronary intervention (VCI) facilitating treatment planning. This study investigated the effect of adding vFFR and VCI to angiography in patient assessment and management.

Methods

Two cardiologists independently reviewed clinical data and angiograms of 50 patients undergoing invasive management of coronary syndromes, and their management plans were recorded. The vFFRs were computed and disclosed, and the cardiologists submitted revised plans. Then, using VCI, the physiological results of various interventional strategies were shown, and further revision was invited.

Results

Disclosure of vFFR led to a change in strategy in 27%. VCI led to a change in stent size in 48%. Disclosure of vFFR and VCI resulted in an increase in operator confidence in their decision. Twelve cases were reviewed by six additional cardiologists. There was limited agreement in the management plans between cardiologists based upon either angiography (kappa=0.31) or vFFR (kappa=0.39).

Conclusions

vFFR has the potential to alter decision making, and VCI can guide stent sizing. However, variability in management strategy remains considerable between operators, even when presented with the same anatomical and physiological data.