Diagnosis and Characterization of Coronary Artery Stenosis by Doppler Ultrasound

Diagnosis and Characterization of Coronary Artery Stenosis by Transthoracic Doppler Ultrasound

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of acquisition of coronary blood flow velocity signals over the whole length of the LAD with transthoracic pulsed Doppler, and to evaluate the diagnostic power of the transthoracic Doppler analysis package for detecting and estimating the degree of coronary artery stenosis. Finally we hope to optimize the currently available analysis package on the basis of the comparison of the Doppler with the angiographic stenosis results and evaluation.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients who are clinically suspected of having significant coronary artery stenosis.
• Patients with CAD.
• Patients who are scheduled to undergo coronary angiography.
• Signed informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with arrhythmia / irregular pulse
• Patients with unstable conditions: unstable angina, uncontrolled CHF
• Patients with COPD
• Any physical or medical disability that prevent lying in supine position
• Patients with chest wall deformity