Optical coherence tomography analysis of bioresorbable vascular scaffolds in comparison with metallic stents: A core lab perspective

The implantation of a bioresorbable scaffolds (BRSs) is a new approach that provides transient vessel support with drug delivery capability, potentially without the limitations of permanent metallic implants. The potential short- and long-term performance of this technology has been repeatedly investigated with optical coherence tomography (OCT). However, images acquired by OCT after implantation of BRSs are different from those with metallic stents due to the translucency of polymeric materials compared to the opacity of metallic compounds. This chapter presents the potential bias of conventional methodology and the consensus of multiple core labs and expert researchers of OCT on a standard methodology that enables peopel to compare two different devices using an almost identical, methodological language. When the conventional methods are applied for the comparison of the polymeric bioresorbable scaffold and the permanent metallic stents, the methodological discrepancies discussed in the chapter lead to biased res.