The technique of microscopic visualization applied in cardiology will reduce late thrombosis after placement of a stent.

-La OCT generates images of coronary artery with such precision that facilitates the determination of the stent, so of late thrombosis, very serious complication after the placement of a stent, can be prevented in the almost all cases

-thanks its definition of image, the OCT is being very useful in the development of next generation stents: bioabsorbable drug-proliferative

-with-proliferative drugs bioabsorbable stents to allow thatOnce the stent has carried out its role, it dissolves in the body without leaving remains.

– these advances have been presented at the Congress TEAM (Endovascular therapy and myocardial), which was held in Madrid last week and this year has achieved an attendance record with more than 1,000 specialists in the field

– also have been given the TEAM 2011 awards to the best research projects in interventionism Coronario Percutáneo

Madrid, 2011-October during TEAM, the course of Endovascular therapy and myocardial, which was held last week in the Auditorium of Hotel Melia Castilla in Madrid, has discussed the role of imaging in interventional cardiology techniques and the future of the novel application of one of them, OCT (optical coherence tomography), which allows a microscopic view of the arterial wall in a living person, a previously only possible perspective in autopsies.

The OCT is a technique of optical tomographic image noninvasive high-resolution used hitherto only for ocular pathologies which has recently begun to be applied in coronary intervention.

The OCT, the IVUS (intracoronaria ultrasound), which is a stronger technique that uses sound, unlike emit one infrared light that allows the acquisition, in real time and in situ, of images in cross-sections of the tissues and provides one ten times higher than with the IVUS resolution.

High resolution OCT allows to assess accurately whether a stent has been well fixed to the vein, which reduces the possibility of occurring thrombus later. This technique is still very useful in the development of new bioabsorbable stents, providing accurate data to track the evolution of a stent once it has been placed.

This technique will greatly improve the effectiveness of the stent, since the most common complication for the placement of a stent, is the risk of late thrombosis. Now, with the OCT can not only see better how to perform the angioplasty, but it also allows us to better track to it, so thanks to its ability to microscopic observe coronary artery, can detect and act in advance before the appearance of a thrombus ”, emphasizes Dr. Eulogio Garcia, one of the directors of the Group TEAM, belonging to the service of hemodynamics and cardiology Interventional from Hospital Clínico San Carlos in Madrid.

During the day on Friday, in the debate the OCT is the future and will replace the IVUS-FFR OCT ”, gathered experts discussed the role that represents this new technique the already existing; although OCT offers higher resolution, it has low penetration, so that you can only view the image of the outer wall of the artery, while with the IVUS, which has lower resolution but greater penetration, allows a better observation of the plate.

Techniques are still very new, but what we are seeing the experts is that the future lies in the combination of both techniques, the OCT and the IVUS, depending on the case. It is true that OCT only allows to see the wall and light of the artery, but it is precisely at this point where they occur the majority of complications that we must try to ”, concludes Dr. Eulogio Garcia. the OCT has a great future and still has a long way to go because, to this day, in Spain only occurs in a few hospitals ”.

The new generation of stents

Stents are metallic devices of different designs that are introduced in the coronary arteries and acting underpinning its wall. This prevents occlusion or sudden closure of posterior artery.

Since a few years ago, is are introduced regularly stents farmacoactivos or liberators of drugs (SFA). This type of stents, in addition to the above function, is designed to slowly release the exact dose of medication and, thus, help prevent Restenosis (narrowing of the artery playback). Thus, the drug acts by limiting excessive growth of tissue within the artery.

The use of these types of stents to the detriment of conventional, is increasingly common. Thus 100,000 stents placed in Spain each year, 60% are farmacoactivos. Late thrombosis, which was considered a serious problem a few years ago with the farmacoactivos of first generation stents has become one minor problem with second and third generation stents and adequate antiplatelet treatment ”, says Dr. Eulogio Garcia.

Thus, also discussed how it should be these new stents; After evaluating the various studies, the experts have highlighted that many advances in the creation of a stent to release-proliferative drugs and who are also biodegradable, this being achieved way may disappear from the body once have completed its function, reducing also the risk of thrombosis.

Are being many advances in this field, thanks to the OCT, since it allows us to know much better stents behavior once are implanted in the body ”, concludes Dr. Eulogio Garcia.

On the same day on Friday, in addition to continuing with the presentation of cases live and session conducting clinical – practices, have been given the TEAM 2011 prizes for the best research projects in interventionism Coronario Percutáneo, in particular, the 2011 TEAM Award for medical researchdelivered to the DRA. Elizabeth Calvo, responsible for the area of Cardiology of the Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet in Zaragoza, and the 2011 TEAM Award for research in nursing to nurse Esther BAS, from the Servicio Extremeño de Salud.

About TEAM

TEAM is the international course of Endovascular therapy and myocardial which this year reached its ninth edition and was held in Madrid from 5 to 7 October. During the course, were thematic symposiums, lectures by experts, meetings for the presentation of case studies, clinical sessions presented real cases and cases live relay. In addition, surrendered the TEAM 2011 awards to projects of interventionism Coronario Percutáneo (ICP) in two categories, medical research and research in nursing, and the prize for the best e-póster in interventional cardiology. Finally, carried out an exhibition of the winners of research awards TEAM 2010 in interventional cardiology.