IVUS/OCT

Coronary angiogram’s accuracy is affected by technical limitations, important interobserver variability, and its poor visualization of the vessel wall.

Today, intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), and optical coherence tomography (OCT) are extensively used to overcome the aforementioned limitations.

IVUS helps in the assessment of coronary lesions classified as moderate based on angiography, especially those located in the left main coronary artery, and in the assessment of long lesions, small artery lesions, bifurcations and in-stent restenosis. Before percutaneous intervention, IVUS/OCT allows accurate description of the vessel size and the extent of the atherosclerotic plaque. IVUS/OCT ensures optimal sizing and complete stent coverage of the vulnerable plaque.

Its use should reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) because of lower restenosis and stent thrombosis rates.