Coronary artery flow monitoring: the value of intravascular Doppler for detection of complications after interventions.

Ultrasound transducer-tipped guidewires can be used for coronary interventions, and they permit the monitoring of coronary flow before, during, and after the interventions. The flow signal contains valuable information regarding the quality and stability of the final result. Restoration of typical phasic flow patterns with diastolic predominance is one guide to final result. Monitoring the trend in average velocity over several minutes after completion of the procedure can detect subtle alterations in flow that may presage abrupt closure. These flow alterations might also help predict active plaques with heavy thrombus involvement that may undergo recurrence in the weeks and months after successful procedures.