Determination of phasic flow speeds in the coronary vessels by means of a simple photodensitometric technique (author's transl)

Systolic and diastolic flow rates in coronary arteries were determined from cineangiograms using a photodensitometric measurements system. The front velocity of a bolus of contrast medium was evaluated by two different methods. Measurements in aortocoronary bypass grafts showed that the photodensitometric determination of flow rates overestimated the electromagnetically measured flow by about 20%. Measurements in coronary arteries proved a good reproducibility (r=0.98) and the typical pattern of phasic flow. The velocity of flow in coronary arteries was nearly identical before and after branchings of the vessels (r=0.96).