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CMC has new technology to improve precision of stent placement

Charlotte, N.C. – Carolinas Medical Center was the first cardiovascular center in the Carolinas to adopt Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) for the placement of cardiac stents. OCT is an infrared imaging technology that greatly enhances precision in the placement of stents in patients with blocked arteries.

“OCT provides us with a powerful diagnostic tool to view a blocked artery before stent placement so that we have much greater detail concerning the nature and extent of the blockage and the overall condition of the vessel,” said Michael J. Rinaldi, MD, interventional cardiologist with Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute which is offering the technique.

“After a stent is placed, we use OCT again to assure that the placement is exactly right,” Rinaldi continued. “Precise placement is essential to assure that patients receive the maximum benefit from the stent, that the blockage does not reoccur and that the condition of the vessel is improved.”

Sanger physicians use stents – akin to tiny scaffolds that hold the coronary artery open after the blockage has been reduced through angioplasty – to re-establish proper blood flow in patients suffering from clogged and damaged arteries. The OCT imaging technology involves the insertion of a tiny camera into a patient’s vessels to generate three-dimensional images that offer clarity and detail at least 10 times greater than other cardiovascular imaging techniques.

Sanger Heart and Vascular Institute doctors have been using OCT for select stent procedures for about three months, with more than 50 patients successfully treated so far. In addition to improved image clarity and detail, OCT does not use any radiation, which further contributes to patient safety and peace of mind.

“We were approved to offer this new technology because of our experience with the adoption of new technology and our extensive background in cardiovascular research and clinical trials,” Dr. Rinaldi said. “For our patients, the use of OCT means we are optimizing the placement of stents, reducing risks and assuring enhanced long-term outcomes.”

Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute offers a comprehensive range of cardiac care, including prevention, diagnosis and treatment of pediatric and adult cardiovascular disease. With a staff of cardiologists and cardiac, thoracic and vascular surgeons, Sanger features the region's only heart transplant program, pediatric heart specialists, congenital surgery, clinical research, cardiac teaching program and nationally recognized specialists. The practice has numerous locations throughout the Carolinas.