The role of coronary physiology in the management of percutaneous coronary intervention: Insights from the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI) Consensus

Abstract

The European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI) recently released a consensus statement on coronary physiology's role in managing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). Indeed, in recent years, significant advancements have been made in coronary imaging techniques, which have greatly improved our ability to assess stenosis features. Techniques like instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR), fractional flow reserve (FFR), and longitudinal vessel analysis have evolved, providing insights into the hemodynamic significance of coronary lesions and guiding treatment decisions, particularly in PCI. This commentary aims to enlighten the critical issues of the EAPCI statement, briefly reviewing the main techniques for the study of coronary physiology and their applications.