THE CORONARY BACKWARD-PROPAGATING 'SUCTION' WAVE ARISES FROM A COMBINATION OF MICROCIRCULATORY DECOMPRESSION AND REFLECTION OF A FORWARD-PROPAGATING WAVE ORIGINATING IN THE AORTA

Abstract

Objective: Coronary wave intensity (WI) analysis has revealed the existence of a large backward-propagating decompression (or ‘suction’) wave (BDW) occurring in early diastole that plays a major role in establishing diastolic coronary blood flow and may have clinical relevance. It has so far been considered that this wave arises entirely due to decompression of intramyocardial vessels during cardiac relaxation, then propagating back towards the aorta. In this study, we investigated whether reflection of the closely preceding forward-propagating decompression wave (FDW), which originates in the aorta, also contributes to the BDW. Design and method: Mechanisms underlying the BDW were elucidate..