Coronary collateral circulation and segmental wall motion analysis

109 patients with angiographic documentation of coronary collateral circulation were studied. In 58 there was a retrograde visualization of the right coronary artery, while in 51 there was retrograde filling of the left anterior descending artery. Taking into account four different criteria for defining the angiographic appearance of the collateral circulation, the authors considered its protective role on the left ventricular function by analysing the segmental wall motion. None of the considered parameters could demonstrate a protective role on the wall motion of the area supplied by the right coronary artery. Instead, when the occluded left anterior descending artery was retrogradely filled the abundance and good opacification of collateral anastomotic vessels were significantly related to a better wall motion of the anterior wall of the left ventricle.