TIMI flow grade
Pronunciation: TIH-mee
Also written as: TIMI — Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction
Standardized angiographic classification system for assessing coronary blood flow from 0 (no flow) to 3 (normal flow).
Full Definition
The TIMI (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction) flow grade is a standardized angiographic scoring system used to assess the degree of coronary perfusion. The classification includes: TIMI 0 (no perfusion, no antegrade flow beyond occlusion point), TIMI 1 (penetration without perfusion, contrast passes beyond obstruction but fails to opacify distal vessel), TIMI 2 (partial perfusion, contrast opacifies entire vessel but clearance is slower than normal), and TIMI 3 (complete perfusion, normal flow with complete filling and clearance of contrast). This grading system is crucial for evaluating procedural success, comparing treatment strategies, and predicting clinical outcomes in both acute and elective coronary interventions.
Usage
Usage note: TIMI is always capitalized. Flow grade is typically written as a numeral (0, 1, 2, 3) following the acronym.
In Context
- "Final angiography demonstrated TIMI flow grade 3 in all coronary vessels." — Procedure completion report
- "The patient presented with TIMI flow grade 0 in the right coronary artery." — Initial diagnostic assessment