Inclusion Criteria:  Age >18 years.  Stable CAD with indication for PCI of a lesion in either of the following coronary segments:  6 or 7 (proximal or mid left anterior descending coronary artery) 11 (Proximal left circumflex coronary artery) 1 or 2 (proximal right coronary artery) Normal cardiac function in the myocardial segments subtended by the target vessel, as assessed by echocardiography at the time of coronary angiography. Written informed consent obtained.  Exclusion Criteria:  Pre-existing heart failure Known pre-existing irreversible regional or global wall motion abnormalities affecting the myocardial segments subtended by the target vessel. Severe valvulopathy Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow <3 in the target vessel.