Measurement of Coronary Sinus Blood Flow

In 14 subjects with normal coronary arteries the mean coronary sinus blood flow was 122 25 mI/min (range, 83 to 159 ml/min). The blood flow computed per 100 g of left ventricle was 82 + 16 ml/min, which is in the range of values obtained by nitrous oxide and coincidence counting methods. In 35 patients with arteriographically confirmed coronary artery disease the mean flow was similar (128 + 20 ml/min; range, 92 to 167 ml/min). A special catheter was used for simultaneous measurement of blood flow in the coronary sinus and great cardiac vein. In eight normal subjects the mean great cardiac vein flow was 68 + 11 ml/min (range, 51 to 78 ml/min) or 65 + 10% of the coronary sinus blood flow. The method allowed continuous measurement of flow over a period of several minutes and, for the first time, measurement of rapid changes in myocardial perfusion.