Coronary optical coherence tomography in late stent thrombosis: the first application in Turkey

Stent thrombosis remains an unresolved problem despite advances in coronary revascularization. Incomplete stent apposition (malapposition) and incomplete endothelialization of stent struts, which is more commonly seen with drug-eluting stents, are the primary causes of late or very late stent thrombosis. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a novel modality for imaging of these potentially fatal conditions. Coronary angiography performed for non-ST elevation myocardial infarction in a 60-year-old male patient with a three-year history of sirolimus-eluting stent implantation to the left anterior descending coronary artery showed stent thrombosis. In addition to his regular aspirin and clopidogrel therapy, heparin and tirofiban infusions were started. Repeat coronary angiography five days later showed nearly complete disappearance of the thrombus. Further examination with OCT to evaluate stent malapposition and endothelialization revealed separation of stent struts from the vessel wall. Balloon dilatation was performed and complete apposition of the stent struts against the vessel wall was achieved, which was further confirmed by OCT. This represents the first OCT application in our country in a case of very late stent thrombosis.