Optical coherence tomography to guide percutaneous coronary intervention

The procedure

Like coronary angiography, optical coherence tomography uses a thin flexible tube (a catheter), which is inserted into an artery in the groin or arm over a guide wire under local anaesthetic and moved into the coronary artery that is being investigated. In optical coherence tomography, the catheter tip emits near-infrared light to produce three-dimensional images of the inside of the vessels. The images are obtained at the same time as the contrast dye is injected through the guide wire, and may provide more detail than other methods such as ultrasound or conventional angiography.