Long-Term Superiority of Intravascular Imaging: 5-Year Results from the RENOVATE-COMPLEX-PCI Trial

Introduction: The Shift from Seeing to Visualizing

For decades, coronary angiography has been the gold standard for guiding percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, as a two-dimensional silhouette of a three-dimensional structure, angiography has inherent limitations, particularly in the assessment of complex coronary anatomy. The emergence of intravascular imaging—specifically Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS) and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)—has allowed interventionalists to look within the vessel wall, providing precise measurements of vessel size, plaque morphology, and stent expansion. The RENOVATE-COMPLEX-PCI trial sought to determine if this enhanced visualization translates into long-term clinical benefits for patients with high-risk, complex lesions.

Highlighting Clinical Significance