Key result
Intravascular imaging, particularly intravascular ultrasound, is an important tool for guiding left main percutaneous coronary intervention to improve immediate performance and long-term outcomes.
Why the study?
Left main PCI is challenging with worse clinical outcomes, and the latest scientific advancements regarding intravascular imaging guidance needed to be highlighted as the role of OCT remains to be defined.
Does intravascular imaging guidance improve outcomes in patients undergoing left main percutaneous coronary intervention?
Does intravascular imaging guidance improve outcomes in patients undergoing left main percutaneous coronary intervention?
This review highlights the importance of intravascular imaging, particularly IVUS, in guiding left main PCI to optimize procedural and long-term clinical outcomes.
Supports IVUS/OCT guidance in LM PCI; leaves open outcome benefits pending dedicated RCTs.
Left main (LM) stem has different structural and anatomical characteristics compared to all of the other segments of the coronary tree, thus its management through percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a challenge and is associated with worse clinical outcome and higher need for revascularization as compared to other lesion settings. Intravascular imaging, by means of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) or optical coherence tomography (OCT), is an important tool for LM PCI guidance, aiming at improving the immediate performance and the long term outcome of this procedure. Following current guidelines and recent scientific findings, IVUS becomes important to firstly assess, and finally evaluate the result of LM stenting, according to the experience and preferences of the operator. The role of OCT still remains to be defined, but recent data is shedding light also on this imaging technique. The aim of this review is to highlight the latest scientific advancements regarding intravascular imaging in LM coronary artery disease.
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Cortese et al. (2022) conducted a review in Left main coronary artery disease. Intravascular imaging (IVUS or OCT) was evaluated. Intravascular imaging, particularly intravascular ultrasound, is an important tool for guiding left main percutaneous coronary intervention to improve immediate performance and long-term outcomes.