| In the new era of the drug-eluting stent, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has become a more widespread therapeutic option. However, complex lesions like stenoses with tortuous vessels and chronic total occlusions (CTOs) remain a challenge for many interventional cardiologists, as conventional guide wires may be unable to cross the lesion, or lead to complications like a dissection or perforation of the vessels. Besides, the therapy of such complex lesions may be associated with prolonged procedural and radiation times, and increased usage of contrast media. In his PhD project, Keiichi Tsuchida investigates the efficacy of the novel NiobeTM Magnetic Navigation System in guide-wire maneuvering for the PCI of stenoses within tortuous coronary vessels and CTOs. In addition, he analyzes the long-term outcome of drug-eluting stent therapy in relation to antiplatelet treatment, because little is known about safe dose and administration period. |
