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Proximal optimization technique and final kissing balloon inflations with noncompliant balloons facilitate success with coronary bifurcation intervention. The use of bioresorbable vascular scaffolds has been postulated to reduce the risk of in-stent restenosis, a particular problem with bifurcation intervention. We present a case of bifurcation intervention in a 49-year-old woman, using for the first time, proximal optimization and kissing balloon inflation within bioresorbable vascular scaffolds, using optical coherence tomography guidance.

Background: Angiography is used to assess ductal morphology and caliber during interventional closure of the ductus arteriosus. We are evaluating the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) to evaluate ductal anatomy given the potential benefit of superior resolution and lower radiation. Methods: Standard angiograms were performed on two patients with patent ductus arteriosus prior to device occlusion. OCT was then used to obtain high-resolution three-dimensional vessel reconstructions. Devices were chosen based on angiographic measurements. Results: OCT resulted in excellent three-dimensional anatomic definition, with elliptical narrowest lumenal measurements of 2.2 x 3.1 mm and 1.6 x 2.3 ...

Background: While the current methodology for determining fibrous cap (FC) thickness of lipid plaques is based on manual measurements of arbitrary points, which could lead to high variability and decreased accuracy, it ignores the three-dimensional (3-D) morphology of coronary artery disease. Objective: To compare, utilizing optical coherence tomography (OCT) assessments, volumetric quantification of FC and macrophage detection using both visual assessment and automated image processing algorithms in non-culprit lesions of STEMI and stable angina pectoris (SAP) patients. Methods: Lipid plaques were selected from 67 consecutive patients (1 artery/patient). FC was manually delineated by a computer-aided method and automatically classified ...

Objectives : We performed systematic optical coherence tomography (OCT) analyses after BVS implantation in a “real world” setting aiming at evaluating scaffold expansion and longitudinal integrity. Background : A comprehensive elucidation of bioresorbable vascular scaffolds´ (BVS) acute performance in the “real-world” setting is lacking Methods : Acute BVS expansion compared with compliance chart information and longitudinal integrity were assessed in 29 patients (32 lesions) by OCT. In addition, bench experiments with 4 scaffolds were performed with different combinations of deployment pressures and tube stiffness. Results : Scaffold underexpansion, using compliance chart information as reference, was observed in 97% of OCT cross-sections in vivo; however ...

Objectives This study sought to assess in vivo sex differences in the pathophysiology of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and vascular response to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Background There is no consensus on whether differences in the pathophysiology of STEMI and response to primary PCI between women and men reflect biological factors as opposed to differences in age. Methods In this prospective, multicenter study, 140 age-matched men and women with STEMI undergoing primary PCI with everolimus-eluting stent were investigated with intravascular optical coherence tomography, histopathology-immunohistochemistry of thrombus aspirates, and serum biomarkers. Primary endpoints were the percentages of culprit plaque ...

Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with gated optical coherence tomography (OCT) are described. One example method includes generating an image control signal to control an OCT apparatus to acquire an image of an embryonic heart at a specified point in time during a cardiac cycle of the embryonic heart. The method may also include controlling the OCT apparatus to acquire the image based on the image control signal. In different examples, the image may be acquired in vivo or from an excised heart that is paced. The OCT apparatus and the embryonic heart may be housed in an environmental ...

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in bifurcations is routinely performed, however this procedure is associated with higher rates of adverse events compared non-bifurcation PCI [1,2]. While bifurcation PCI per se leads to progressively higher rates of periprocedural myocardial infarction as its complexity increases (i.e., 1- vs. 2-stent technique) [3], side-branch (SB) stenosis (SBS) after main-branch (MB) stenting may further contribute to myocardial ischemia and necrosis; in addition, it might require additional intervention and resource utilization.