Radiology, Vol 159, 657-662, Copyright © 1986 by Radiological Society of North America
Left coronary arterial blood flow: noninvasive detection by Doppler US
R Gramiak, J Holen, AJ Moss, OH Gutierrez, AL Picone and SA Roe
Continuous wave (CW) and pulsed Doppler ultrasound studies with spectral
analysis were used to detect the left coronary arterial blood flow in
patients who were undergoing routine echocardiography. The pulmonary artery
is a stable ultrasonic landmark from which detection of the blood flow can
be effected. The left coronary artery can be distinguished by its blood
flow toward the cardiac apex and by specific, functional flow features.
Flow patterns vary among the left main, circumflex, and anterior descending
arteries; patterns also vary with respiration cycles. In the present study,
coronary arterial blood flow was detected in 58 of 70 patients (83%).
Findings were validated by selectively injecting an agitated saline
contrast medium into the left coronary artery and, in another study, by
comparing human Doppler phasic flow waveforms with electromagnetic
flowmeter recordings obtained in dogs.
