Impact of atherosclerotic plaque components and their distribution on stent deployment: an intravascular-ultrasound virtual histology observational study.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate how the spatial distribution of each plaque element, defined by intravascular-ultrasound virtual histology (IVUS-VH), may affect stent deployment even at high inflation pressures.

Methods: Thirty-two patients undergoing direct percutaneous coronary intervention and IVUS were evaluated. Fifty-two lesions were treated with drug-eluting stents.