[Penetration of endocoronary imaging in France (data from France PCI): The French exception]

Abstract

Purpose: Evaluate intravascular coronary imaging (ICI) utilization in France and compare it with other countries.

Methodology: We included in our study all PCI performed between 2014 and 2021 in all participating centers of France PCI registry.

Results: The percentage of ICI use during PCI varied from 1.2% to 1% between 2014 and 2020 in the France PCI Registry. In 2021, among 45,227 PCI procedures performed at the 41 participating centers, 768 (1.7%) had an ICI, including 329 (0.7%) with OCT, 341 (0.8%) with IVUS, and 98 (0.2%) undetermined. In "all-comers" PCI, the rate of ICI use was 1.7% in France, 2.5% in the United States, 10% in Sweden, 16.2% in the United Kingdom, and 84.4% in Japan. In left main PCI, the rate was 5.8% in France, 62.3% in Sweden, 66.6% in the UK, and 96.6% in Japan. In the France PCI registry, the rate of ICI use ranged from 0% to 9.5% in all PCI and from 0% to 30% in left main PCI.

Conclusion: ICI techniques are exceptionally used in France in routine practice, in contrast to our European neighbors such as Swede or the United Kingdom. Obtaining reimbursement in certain recommended indications and participation in a national interventional cardiology registry with incentive practice indicators should improve this situation.

Keywords: IVUS; Imagerie endocoronaire; Intravascular coronary imaging; OCT; PCI; angioplastie.