Conclusions
There are many practical uses for OCT in the modern cath lab. As the complexity of lesions treated and the number of devices used continue to increase, applications for OCT are certain to expand. OCT offers several distinct advantages over IVUS and other imaging modalities. In particular, the increased resolution of OCT sets the stage for its use in imaging a wealth of scenarios. We have found that OCT is particularly helpful for situations where fine tissue resolution is required – such as imaging edge dissections, tissue prolapse with stents and thrombus. Furthermore, as illustrated, here we have found that the improved resolution of OCT often provides superior information to traditional IVUS.
In summary, we have presented a series of cases in which the practical use of OCT helped to define lesion pathology, guide interventional treatment and assess post-procedural results. We believe that OCT is an extremely useful addition to any modern cath lab.
The publication of this information was supported by St. Jude Medical.