What is left main coronary artery disease?
Left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease is the highest-risk lesion subset of ischemic heart disease, and has traditionally been an indication for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
What is the significance of left main coronary artery stenosis?
Left main coronary artery (LMCA) stenosis is a relatively infrequent but important cause of symptomatic coronary artery disease. Multiple studies have found LMCA stenosis to be an independent indicator of increased morbidity and mortality rates among patients with coronary artery disease.
What does IVUS mean in medical terms?
Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS) is a catheter-based diagnostic procedure used to view the inside of a coronary artery, providing a real-time view.
What does left main disease mean?
protected left main disease refers to patients with patent bypass graft to one of 2 major left circulation branches (left anterior descending or left circumflex coronary artery) 2. unprotected left main disease (also called ULMD) refers to patients without bypass to the left coronary circulation 2.
Can the left main artery be stented?
Left main coronary artery stenting is typically suitable for patients who are at high risk for surgical complications or have comorbidities.
When is IVUS used?
Doctors use IVUS to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of both arteries and veins. In the veins, doctors most often IVUS for acute and chronic blood clots, especially if narrowing of the veins is thought to be the cause. IVUS can help find areas of narrowing or blockage deep in the body.
Can you stent the left main?
When is OCT better than IVUS?
OCT was better at detecting stent malapposition, tissue protrusion, and edge dissections compared with IVUS. Habara et al. (60) published a randomized clinical trial comparing OCT-guided PCI to IVUS-guided PCI in 70 patients with de novo coronary lesions.
How is IVUS done?
IVUS uses a special catheter with a small ultrasonic transducer on one end. The doctor threads the catheter through an artery or vein to the target location. Once there, the transducer generates sound waves to produce images of the blood vessels and help assess various conditions.
Why is the left main coronary artery called the Widowmaker?
The LAD artery carries fresh blood into the heart so that the heart gets the oxygen it needs to pump properly. If it’s blocked, the heart can stop very fast — which is why this type of heart attack is called a “widowmaker.”
Can you stent the left main coronary artery?
What is the difference between OCT and IVUS?
IVUS and OCT: technical and procedural differences IVUS utilizes ultrasound whereas the OCT uses infrared light (8-10). OCT has 10 times greater resolution compared with IVUS; however, it requires clearing of blood typically with contrast, but also with dextran as a contrast-sparing agent (11,12).