The Use of Intravascular Imaging to Guide PCI Reduces Cardiovascular Death Risk, Compared to Angiography

Intravascular imaging, which includes ultrasound intravascular (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT), shows live details that better characterize post stenting plaque, anatomy and outcomes.  The already familiar limitations of the angiography has lead us to think that IVUS and OCT could improve clinical outcomes; however, we should still find the evidence to support this claim.

El uso de imágenes intravasculares para guiar la angioplastia reduce el riesgo de muerte cardiovascular en comparación con la angiografía

To shed some light on this matter, researchers carried out this meta-analyzis of well-adjusted randomized and observational studies comparing angiography guided against OCT or IVUS guided PCI with stent.


Read also: The use of IVUS in unprotected left main PCI associated to better outcomes, compared to angiography guided PCI”.


It included 31 studies and 17882 patients, which makes this study one of the largest ever done so far.

 

Compared to conventional angiography, the use of IVUS significantly reduced all events analyzed, including: all-cause mortality (OR 0.74, CI 95% 0.58 to 0.98), acute myocardial infarction (OR 0.72, CI 95% 0.52 to 0.93), target vessel revascularization (OR: 0.74, CI 95% 0.58 to 0.9) and stent thrombosis (OR 0.42, CI 95% 0.2 to 0.72).


Read also: FFR, IVUS and OCT in Chronic Coronary Syndromes”.


Intravascular imaging guided PCI (be it IVUS or OCT) was associated to significant combined events rate (OR 0.79, CI 95% 0.67 to 0.91 for IVUS and OR 0.68, CI 95% 0.49 to 0.97 for OCT). Cardiovascular death saw similar outcomes.

 

There were no clinical differences in terms of efficacy between IVUS and OCT across all end points.


Read also: Critical Lower Limb Ischemia Should Be Taken into Account in TAVR”.


IVUS effect was neutralized only when looking at all-cause mortality in randomized studies.

 

Conclusion

The use of intravascular imaging (be it IVUS or OCT) to guide PCI reduces cardiovascular death and all adverse events, compared against conventional angioplasty.

 

 

Original title: Clinical Outcomes Following Intravascular Imaging-Guided Versus Coronary Angiography–Guided Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Stent Implantation. A Systematic Review and Bayesian Network Meta-Analysis of 31 Studies and 17,882 Patients.

Reference: Sergio Buccheri et al. J Am Coll Cardiol Intv 2017, article in press.


Subscribe to our weekly newsletter

Get the latest scientific articles on interventional cardiology

We are interested in your opinion. Please, leave your comments, thoughts, questions, etc., below. They will be most welcome.

More articles by this author

ACC 2025 | FAME 3: FFR Guided PCI vs CABG 5 Year Outcomes.

Earlier studies comparing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) vs coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) have shown fewer events at long term for the surgical strategy.  However,...

CRABBIS Trial: Comparison of Different Provisional Stenting Sequences

Provisional stenting (PS) is the gold standard for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in most patients with coronary bifurcation lesions (CBL). Moreover, recent studies such...

Andromeda Trial: Meta-Analysis of Drug Coated Balloon vs. DES in Small Vessel DeNovo Lesions

The use of coronary stents vs plain old balloon angioplasty (POBA), has allowed to reduce recoil and limiting flow dissection which were major limitation...

QFR vs. FFR: Is Coronary Revascularization Deferral Safe? Results from a FAVOR III Sub-Analysis

In cases of intermediate coronary lesions, functional assessment is recommended to aid the decision-making process regarding revascularization. There are several tools currently used to...

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Related Articles

SOLACI Sessionsspot_img

Recent Articles

ACC 2025 | FAME 3: FFR Guided PCI vs CABG 5 Year Outcomes.

Earlier studies comparing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) vs coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) have shown fewer events at long term for the surgical strategy.  However,...

ACC 2025 | API-CAT: Reduced vs. Full Dose Extended Anticoagulation in Patients with Cancer Related VTE

The risk of cancer related recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) will drop over time, while bleeding risk will persist. At present, it is recommended we...

STRIDE: Semaglutide in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease and Type II Diabetes

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a severe complication in patients with type II diabetes, primarily affecting peripheral vessels, especially below-the-knee (BTK) arteries. This condition...