Value of stent boost imaging in decision making after coronary stenting

Background: Several studies reported the comparability of digital stent enhancement techniques (including stent boost imaging) in detecting suboptimal results of coronary stenting with Intra Vascular Ultrasound and optical coherence tomography. Aims: to assess results of stent deployment and determine the incidence of suboptimal results requiring changing final decision using stent boost imaging. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 120 patients eligible for PCI were recruited during a period of one year (January 2021 to 2022) using DES. Results: Suboptimal results were found in 38% of the PCI cases with stents (angiography guided). Importantly it was found that improper lesion preparation in our practice could not help improving stent optimization. Also, angiography guided PCI has significant incidence of suboptimal results. Digital stent enhancement techniques like stent boost have significant and important value in better decision making. After adjusting for age and sex, six factors were identified as independent predictors for final decision change (stent length, LAD/RCA affection, proximal segment affection, calcification, and optical coherence tomography. Conclusion: This study has confirmed the utility of stent boost for the optimization of PCI in daily practice. Stent Boost is a simple and costless technique that provides an accurate assessment of a deployed stent without extending the procedure time and without more risk. It appears to be useful for the immediate evaluation of stent expansion and optimization of PCI by additional post-dilatation, when appropriate. Future studies are needed to determine whether Stent Boost data will correlate with adverse long-term clinical outcomes in patients undergoing PCI.