Diagnosis and Evaluation of Stent Thrombosis with Optical Coherence Tomography.

ABSTRACT

Stent thrombosis (ST) is a rare complication of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI), especially with drug-eluting stents. ST presents as acute myocardial infarction requiring emergent repeat PCI; optimal reperfusion occurs in two-thirds of patients. As a result, ST has been associated with a high mortality rate and a high rate of recurrent thrombosis. We discuss the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) for the diagnosis and evaluation of ST. OCT-guided ST management seems a feasible, safe, and appropriate approach. Intracoronary assesses the efficacy of coronary thrombus removal procedures and detects the prevalent stent-related factor that caused ST.