If you have chest pain that isn’t caused by a blocked artery, diagnosing and treating the problem can feel like trial and error. Atlantic Health has the advanced technology to identify the root cause of your discomfort. This software device, called CoroFlow, can expand your treatment options for a better outcome.
According to Lindsay Elbaum, MD, an interventional cardiologist with Atlantic Health, CoroFlow is a powerful tool that ensures patients like you get the right treatment at the right time.
“We know patients can have chest pain that is not due to typical arterial blockages,” she says. “This testing allows us to better understand the causes of chest pain that aren’t related to atherosclerosis in the large blood vessels of the heart.”
A detailed test that reveals answers
Patients with unexplained chest pain may have coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD), a disease that damages the tiny vessels that deliver blood to the heart. Patient with CMD may have abnormal stress testing but normal coronaries arteries on imaging. Studies show people with CMD are at higher risk for heart attack, heart failure, sudden death and recurrent hospitalizations. So, they need additional testing to pinpoint why their chest hurts. CoroFlow provides the answers.
“Many patients may go through significant testing with stress tests, CT scans or even conventional cardiac catheterizations for evaluation of symptoms. They’re still left without a clear diagnosis. They’re told their pain isn’t from a blockage without being told anything definitive,” Dr. Elbaum says. “CoroFlow helps us diagnose patients better. We can tailor their therapies in ways that will improve their symptoms and outcomes.”
Your doctor may recommend CoroFlow testing if you have:
- A history of heart attack with normal heart imaging.
- Abnormal stress test results with a normal coronary angiogram.
- Chest pain with no visible narrowing of your arteries on cardiac imaging.
- Shortness of breath without an obvious cause.
A comprehensive blood vessel exam that improves outcomes
CoroFlow gives your doctor a thorough evaluation of your blood vessels. It’s often performed as a 30- to 60-minute outpatient cardiac catheterization, a minimally invasive procedure that’s used to diagnose and treat heart problems. The testing examines your:
- Coronary flow reserve (CFR): Your heart’s ability to pump more blood during times of stress
- Microcirculatory resistance: The pressure inside the arteries in your heart and how hard it is for blood to flow through your smaller blood vessels
- Vasodilator response: How your blood vessels respond to medications that encourage blood flow
These three measurements determine how quickly and easily your blood travels. They give your doctor a complete picture of any narrowing in your small blood vessels, Dr. Elbaum says.
“With this information, we can diagnose and treat patients properly,” she says. “And, in many cases, we can potentially change their long-term outcomes.”
Targeted treatments, better results
Atlantic Health interventional cardiologists design your personalized treatment plan based on your CoroFlow test results, Dr. Elbaum says. The goal is to reduce your symptoms and improve your blood flow. Your treatment options may include:
- Lifestyle changes: Adopting a heart-healthy diet, increasing physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight and quitting smoking
- Medications: ACE inhibitors that expand blood vessels, beta-blockers that relax blood vessels, nitrates that relieve chest pain and statins that lower cholesterol
- Cardiac rehabilitation: Structured exercise programs that help strengthen your heart muscle
“CoroFlow testing opens the door for us to provide comprehensive testing that can benefit our patients,” Dr. Elbaum says. “With the right treatment plan, they’ll experience less frequent chest pain. And, for many people, just knowing they have a clear diagnosis gives them a level of mental relief.”
The Atlantic Health difference
CoroFlow launched in January 2026 at Atlantic Health Overlook Medical Center, making it one of the few hospitals in the region to offer this advanced diagnostic service. Adding CoroFlow helps ensure patients with unexplained chest pain receive timely, comprehensive care — close to home.
“By offering this level of detailed testing, we can help obtain a proper diagnosis, perform more comprehensive evaluations and deliver a wider range of care,” she says. “Patients who have chest pain can be confident they’ll get the answers they need when they come to us.”
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