Barriers Limiting OCT Penetration in Clinical Practice

The updated guidelines from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) for chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) have upgraded the use of IVUS and OCT to a class IA recommendation for complex PCI, based on evidence showing a reduction in serious clinical events, including mortality, compared to conventional angiography alone. Despite this, IVUS and OCT are underutilized in daily practice due to factors such as time, cost, and limited technology availability. Investigating the reasons behind this underuse is necessary, especially now that these technologies are more accessible and cost-effective. Additionally, OCT could be particularly helpful in specific cases such as coronary bifurcations and severe calcifications, warranting further evaluation of its use in these settings. The objective of the study OCT2ACT is to investigate: * The main reasons/barriers limiting the use of intracoronary imaging in complex PCI cases where it is indicated as suggested by guidelines; * The main reasons behind the selection of IVUS or OCT in such patients; * In cases where OCT is used, how this technology can influence the procedural planning and optimization in complex clinical settings. The participating centers will include three cohorts of patients: 1. Cohort intracoronary imaging NO: patients who meet the inclusion/exclusion criteria, but did not undergo intracoronary imaging (IVUS or OCT) due to operator's decision. The aim is to describe the main reasons/barriers for not using imaging. 2. Cohort intracoronary imaging YES according to guidelines recommendation: patients who meet the inclusion/exclusion criteria and underwent intracoronary imaging as recommended by guidelines. The aim is to understand the main reasons for the decision to use IVUS or OCT and the clinical benefits perceived by the operator. 3. Cohort intracoronary imaging YES outside guidelines recommendation: patients who meet the inclusion/exclusion criteria and underwent intracoronary imaging (IVUS or OCT) outside.

NCT Number	NCT07193693
Lead Sponsor	Consorzio Futuro in Ricerca
Conditions	Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) (E.G., Angina, Myocardial Infarction, and Atherosclerotic Heart Disease (ASHD))
Enrollment	1,000 participants
Start Date	2025-09-15
Primary Completion	2025-12-15 (estimated)
Study Completion	2026-05-15 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-01-06