POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS OF INTRAVASCULAR IMAGING IN PATIENTS WITH UNPROTECTED LEFT MAIN CORONARY ARTERY LESIONS

Highlights

An analysis of current literature data is presented, focusing in the evidence base for the use of intravascular imaging methods in patients with unprotected left main coronary artery disease.

Abstract

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of disability and mortality globally. In the Russian Federation, the ongoing aging of the population and the accumulation of numerous comorbid diseases necessitate physicians to increasingly manage severe forms of CAD. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) presents an alternative to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for the treatment of left main coronary artery (LMCA) lesions in specific patients with coronary artery disease. Stenting of the LMCA under the guidance of intravascular ultrasound imaging (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) enhances in-hospital and long-term stenting outcomes. Nevertheless, the optimal imaging method for PCI of the LMCA remains a subject of ongoing research. This article provides a comprehensive summary of the historical background and contemporary advancements in these imaging modalities.

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