Fractional Flow Reserve and Optical Coherence Tomography

Nowadays new medical equipment has been brought to help many treatments such as a Fractional Flow Reserve: FFR which utilizes a specialized guide wire to measure blood pressure within a coronary artery. This assists to assess and verify the coronary artery stenosis.  Today FFR, considered as an index of stenosis severity, is the most accurate and precise assessment since Coronary Angiogram is only done to see a restriction in blood flow going to the heart but cannot indicate how width of the heart muscle affected by the restriction and whether the stenosis is either Ischemic heart disease (IHD) or Myocardial infarction (Necrosis). The treatment for these two conditions is different. FFR can help distinguish these two conditions whether Balloon angioplasty is required to help patients receive appropriate treatment and avoid unnecessary Balloon angioplasty.

 

 

The new modern technological tool such as OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) can help doctors identify the actual size of the blood vessels and the length of the lesion, selecting the proper size and length of the stent and determining whether the stent is positioned correctly against the artery wall. For example, not placing against the thin artery wall or other lesions as it may cause some postoperative complications. 

 

OCT can differentiate tissue characteristics and let the cardiologist see inside the artery whether they are lipid-rich plaque, calcified plaque within the walls of the coronary arteries or fibrous and help choose the suitable treatment for patient. Besides, OCT can help assess the condition of the blood vessel after stent placement whether there are any tearing or blood clotting. It also can help the effectiveness of stent placement, assessing whether the balloon properly expands the artery wall. As a result, to examine the coronary arteries by OCT can ensure that the proper treatment is determined and safe without possible complications.

 

Even though cardiovascular diseases can be treated, to prevent and reduce any risks should be the best choice as it’s easier and safer. To raise awareness regarding the heart diseases and enlighten on self-care either exercising, healthy eating, reducing or stopping sweetened, salty or oily foods and quitting smoking should help reduce the number of cardiovascular patients.