Cardiology Letters 2025, 34(2):113-121

Optical coherence tomography-guided percutaneous coronary intervention

Marek Strachan¹, Jihad Bou Ezzeddine²

¹ Oddelenie akútnej kardiológie, Stredoslovenský ústav srdcových a cievnych chorôb, a. s., Banská Bystrica

² II. geriatrickej kliniky, Univerzitná nemocnica s poliklinikou, Bratislava, Slovenská republika

Coronary angiography is limited to two-dimensional assessment of the lumen of coronary arteries that are filled with contrast. In addition to coronary angiography, optical coherence tomography (OCT) - as an intravascular imaging modality - provides high resolution imaging of a coronary lesion and consequently helps the operator to choose an optimal intervention strategy and stent size. Imaging of the implanted stent enables the evaluation of the need of stent optimization and the need of another stent implantation when edge dissection is present. OCT has an important role in identification of stent failure mechanism. The authors of this article demonstrate own experience with OCT in two case studies, undertaken in Stredoslovensky ustav srdcovych a cievnych chorob, a. s. (SUSCCH, a.s.) in Banska Bystrica.

Keywords: optical coherence tomography (OCT); intravascular imaging modality; percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI); stent optimization; stent failure

Published: February 1, 2025  Show citation