Validation of a simplified intravascular ultrasound core lab analysis method in stented coronary arteries.

Objectives: To validate a simplified core laboratory intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) analysis method based on frames with visually determined minimal lumen areas (MLAs) as compared with a comprehensive (per frame) analysis method.

Background: IVUS-guided percutaneous coronary intervention has proven to be superior to angiography-guided stenting. In clinical practice, cross-sections with visually determined MLA are measured to determine lesion severity or minimal stent area (MSA), however, its accuracy has not been compared with a comprehensive per frame analysis method.

Reproducibility of qualitative assessment of stent struts coverage by optical coherence tomography.

Assessment of stent strut coverage by optical coherence tomography (OCT) is not standardized. The methodology most commonly used is based on a visual binary qualitative assessment (strut covered or not). However, the influence of magnification (zoom setting) to the inter- and intra-observer agreements has not yet been evaluated.