Waves in arteries: A review of wave intensity analysis in the systemic and coronary circulations

SummaryThe intermittent ejection of blood by the ventricle results in pulsatile pressure and flow waveforms in the circulation. Understanding and characterizing this pulsatile behaviour is attracting increasing clinical interest, as it may have important implications for risk prediction and the mechanisms of action of therapeutic agents. This review focuses on the theory and use of wave intensity analysis to analyse pulsatile waveforms in the arterial circulation with particular reference to the coronary circulation.