Survey Evaluates Intracoronary Imaging Practices in Europe and Japan

March 20, 2018—Findings from a survey of the current use of intracoronary imaging in interventional practice in Europe and Japan were published by Konstantinos C. Koskinas, MD, et al online in EuroIntervention.

The clinical practice survey of the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions and Japanese Association of Cardiovascular Interventions and Therapeutics evaluated the views of the cardiology community on the clinical use of coronary intravascular imaging (IVI).

As summarized in EuroIntervention, a web-based survey was distributed to 31,893 individuals, with 1,105 responses received (3.5% response rate); 1,010 of 1,097 (92.1%) respondents self-reported as interventional cardiologists, including 754 (68.7%) with > 10 years of experience. Of the respondents, 34.7% were from Europe and 52% were from Asia (45.4% from Japan).

Overall, 96.1% had personal experience with IVI (95.5% with intravascular ultrasound [IVUS], 69.8% with optical coherence tomography [OCT], and 7.9% with near-infrared spectroscopy). The most commonly reported indications for IVI were optimization of stenting (88.5%), procedural/strategy guidance (79.6%), and guidance of left main interventions (77%).

The investigators found that most respondents reported perceived equipoise regarding the choice between IVUS and OCT for the guidance of coronary intervention. High cost (65.9%) and prolongation of the procedure (35%) were the most commonly reported factors limiting use.

IVI was used more frequently (> 15% of cases guided by IVI) in Japan than Europe (96.6% vs 10.4%, respectively; P < .001) and by operators with longer interventional experience.

In this sample of predominantly experienced interventional cardiologists, there was a high rate of personal experience with IVI in clinical practice with substantial variability in practice patterns according to geographic region and interventional experience, concluded the investigators in EuroIntervention.