Cardiovascular solutions from diagnosis to treatment
Coronary Imaging & PCI
Advanced imaging supports detailed coronary assessment and PCI. CMT Health coordinates hospital access and follow-up; clinical decisions remain with the treating team.
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Emergency warning
If you have chest pain at rest, worsening chest pain, persistent sweating, shortness of breath, fainting, or suspected STEMI, NSTEMI, or unstable angina, call emergency services where you are immediately.
Acute coronary syndrome requires timely assessment and reperfusion. Do not take a commercial flight or delay local emergency care for cross-border treatment.
Clearer view
CAG shows the vessel contours; IVUS/OCT further assess the vessel wall, plaque, calcification, and stent status.
More precise treatment
Choose a balloon, stent, DCB, atherectomy, IVL, or another strategy based on lesion morphology and vessel size.
Immediate review and optimization
Use IVUS/OCT again after PCI to assess stent expansion, apposition, edge dissection, and residual issues.
Team-based care for complex cases
Imaging, physiology, complex PCI, cardiac surgery, anesthesia, and critical care can coordinate decisions.
Treatment Advantages In China
China has developed a comprehensive system for coronary artery disease care, including diagnostic assessment, complex PCI, intravascular imaging, periprocedural management, and long-term follow-up.
Extensive Experience In Coronary Intervention
Major cardiovascular centers in China, including Fuwai Hospital and Beijing Anzhen Hospital, perform high volumes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), including procedures for left main, bifurcation, heavily calcified, and chronic total occlusion lesions. The receiving hospital must assess whether its experience and capabilities match the individual case.
National Chest Pain Center Network
China has an extensive network of chest pain centers designed to support rapid assessment and treatment of acute myocardial infarction. The availability and timing of emergency services, and individual outcomes, depend on the hospital and the patient’s condition.
Intravascular Imaging Assessment
Some major cardiovascular centers use intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) to assess plaque characteristics, calcification, stent expansion, and stent apposition. Whether these techniques are appropriate is determined by the treating team.
Itemized Cost Estimates
Angiography, stents, IVUS or OCT catheters, medications, hospitalization, and management of complications may be charged separately. Patients should obtain a written, itemized estimate from the hospital; final costs depend on the procedure and individual case.
Quickly Understand Precision Coronary Intervention Treatment
From examination methods, joint decision-making to applicable groups, first understand the key issues affecting the treatment path.
What Is Precision Coronary Intervention?
View detailsAngiography is performed first, and an interventional strategy is then selected based on the lesion characteristics.
How CAG, IVUS, OCT And PCI Work Together
View detailsAngiography locates the lesion, intracavity imaging evaluates the details, PCI completes the treatment and conducts immediate review.
How To Choose Between IVUS And OCT
View detailsThe two methods have different observation focuses; the choice depends on the lesion, renal function, equipment, and operator experience.
People Suitable For Cross-Border Elective Assessment
View detailsPeople with stable symptoms, images suggesting stenosis, or people who want to get a second opinion on complex lesions can be pre-evaluated remotely first.
Emergency Exclusion, Preoperative Assessment And Safety Bottom Line
View detailsWhen acute coronary syndrome is suspected, seek the nearest emergency care first; do not delay it for cross-border treatment.
Care Journey
- 01
Remote Consultation And Matching
Our care coordination team will help you confirm the receiving hospital's requirements for preparing materials and the appropriate submission channel.
- 02
Trip Planning And Preparation
Our coordinators will assist in signing service agreements, applying for medical visas, booking air tickets, and coordinating apartments or hotels near the hospital.
- 03
Arrival Services
Arrange airport pick-up and check-in with bilingual staff.
- 04
Accompanying The Whole Process Of Diagnosis And Treatment In The Hospital
From examination through outpatient consultation to admission, professional medical interpreters will assist with all communication.
- 05
Surgery And Rehabilitation Implementation
The hospital's team performs the surgery and develops an individualized recovery plan.
- 06
Discharge And Continuing Care
You will receive a home rehabilitation plan and regular follow-up via online video.
Medical team
Review hospitals and specialists with relevant experience in this treatment. Availability, team composition, and admission arrangements must be confirmed with the receiving hospital.
Hospitals
Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences
Beijing
High coronary-intervention volumes and routine use of IVUS, OCT, FFR/QFR, and complex-PCI tools.
Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University
Beijing
The team provides complex PCI for left-main, bifurcation, calcified, and chronic total occlusion lesions.
The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University
Harbin, Heilongjiang
Long-standing OCT research covers acute coronary syndromes, plaque erosion, and precision intervention.
Nanjing First Hospital
Nanjing, Jiangsu
The team has established research and clinical experience in bifurcation PCI and IVUS-guided intervention.
The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University
Xi'an, Shaanxi
Its team has experience in complex coronary intervention and high-definition dual-frequency IVUS research.
West China Hospital, Sichuan University
Chengdu, Sichuan
The team provides IVUS/OCT-guided complex PCI and advanced calcium-modification and circulatory-support techniques.
The First Hospital of China Medical University
Shenyang, Liaoning
Current imaging platforms and international-patient pathways require confirmation with the hospital.
Jiangsu Province Hospital
Nanjing, Jiangsu
Its team has participated in major research on IVUS-guided PCI; current scheduling and platform availability require confirmation.
The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University
Changsha, Hunan
It has a long-established coronary angiography and interventional cardiology program.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between CAG and coronary CTA?
CTA is a non-invasive CT examination, suitable for screening and anatomical assessment of some patients; CAG is an invasive catheter examination, which can add functional studies, IVUS/OCT and PCI under the same channel.
How to choose between IVUS and OCT?
IVUS is more suitable for deep structures, vessel size, left main trunk and complex calcification; OCT is more suitable for superficial plaque, thrombus and stent details. Ultimately it depends on the lesion, renal function, equipment and operator experience.
Can angiography and PCI be completed at one time?
Yes, but not required. PCI can be performed at the same time when the lesions are clear, the risk is controllable, and informed consent has been completed; staging may be possible when complex multivessel lesions, abnormal renal function, or Heart Team discussion is required.
Why should FFR or IVUS/OCT be performed if stenosis is seen on angiography?
CAG mainly looks at the lumen contour; FFR/iFR determines the significance of ischemia, and IVUS/OCT determines the details of the vessel wall, plaque and stent, and answers different questions.
Can angiography be performed if kidney function is poor?
It is not absolutely impossible, but eGFR, contrast medium load, fluid replacement, and alternatives need to be evaluated; OCT usually requires more contrast medium and may be more cautious.
How soon after PCI can I fly?
It depends on acute myocardial infarction, cardiac function, complications, puncture point and voyage. International patients must obtain written travel advice from their supervising physician before discharge.
How long do I need to take medication after a stent?
The course of dual antiplatelet therapy needs to be individualized according to ACS/chronic coronary syndrome, stent, ischemia and bleeding risks; you cannot stop the medication on your own or let the website promise a uniform duration.
Will IVUS/OCT increase the cost?
It will increase costs such as imaging service fees and disposable catheters, but may reduce problems such as stent size selection, insufficient expansion or poor adhesion in complex PCI; whether to use it should be based on indications.
The local doctor recommends CABG (bypass), can I still be evaluated for PCI?
A Heart Team second opinion is available, but PCI is not necessarily better than CABG. Patients with complex multivessel disease, diabetes, and decreased left ventricular function may be more suitable for surgery.
What should I do if I am allergic to contrast media?
First distinguish the type and severity of past reactions, and the hospital will formulate pretreatment, alternative contrast media, and rescue plans; you cannot verbally judge "not allergic" by yourself.
Can left main or CTO (chronic total occlusion) be treated?
Some patients can undergo PCI, but it needs to be comprehensively judged by a highly experienced center based on IVUS/OCT, functionality, SYNTAX complexity, cardiac surgery conditions, and patient risk.
Detailed information
What Is Precision Coronary Intervention?
Precision coronary intervention is a comprehensive approach that “first accurately detects and then unblocks accurately”. It not only determines whether the blood vessels are blocked, but also clearly identifies the characteristics of the disease, and accordingly chooses a treatment strategy suited to the individual case.
CAG Detects Lesions
Determine stenosis, occlusion, thrombus, calcification, abnormal course and distribution of lesions to determine whether further evaluation is needed.
Accurate IVUS/OCT Assessment
Measure true vessel size and plaque burden, and identify calcification, thrombus, plaque rupture/erosion, and stent failure mechanisms.
PCI Treatment
Select balloons, drug-eluting stents, drug balloons, rotational atherectomy, shock wave calcium fragmentation, cutting balloons, etc. according to the lesion.
Image Review Results
Check stent expansion, adhesion, edge dissection, residual stenosis and thrombus, and perform additional optimization if necessary.
How CAG, IVUS, OCT And PCI Work Together
CAG is used to detect and locate lesions, IVUS/OCT further evaluates the details of the vessel wall, plaque, and stent. PCI is performed after clear indications, and the results are immediately reviewed by intraluminal imaging.
Coronary Angiography (CAG)
A passage is established through the radial artery or femoral artery, the catheter is sent to the coronary artery opening and contrast medium is injected, and the outline of the blood vessel lumen is observed under X-ray.
- Location, length and extent of stenosis or occlusion
- Calcification, thrombosis, collateral circulation and graft conditions
- Whether functional or intraluminal imaging is needed to supplement the judgment
- Whether to continue medical treatment, PCI, or coronary artery bypass surgery evaluation
IVUS: Assessment Of Complex Vascular Structures
IVUS observes the external elastic lamina, true diameter, plaque burden, calcification distribution, and stent expansion and adhesion from within the vascular lumen. It is especially suitable for complex scenarios such as left main trunk, long lesions, chronic occlusion, severe calcification, and stent failure.
OCT: Observe Superficial Structures, Thrombus And Stent Details
OCT uses near-infrared light to obtain high-resolution intravascular images; imaging typically requires the injection of contrast media to clear the blood, so renal function, contrast media load, and circulatory status must be factored into the selection.
PCI: Complete Revascularization After Clear Indications
PCI does not mean that stents are placed in all stenoses. Doctors will decide whether to intervene based on symptoms, evidence of ischemia, lesion anatomy, functionality, intraluminal imaging, drug treatment effects, and surgical feasibility.
- Balloon pre-dilation or post-dilation
- Drug-eluting stent (DES)
- Drug Balloon (DCB)
- Rotary atherectomy, cutting balloon or shock wave calcification (IVL)
- Strategies for complex lesions such as thrombosis, chronic occlusion, bifurcation, and left main artery
How To Choose Between IVUS And OCT
Both methods have their own observation points and cannot replace ischemic functional studies and overall clinical judgment.
| Comparison item | IVUS | OCT |
|---|---|---|
| Main Advantages | Deeper penetration allows estimation of true vessel size, plaque burden and deep calcification | Higher resolution for identification of thrombus, plaque surface and stent details |
| Common Key Scenarios | Contrast media management in left main trunk, long lesions, CTO, severe calcification, and limited renal function | Plaque rupture/erosion, edge dissection, malapposition, stent failure mechanism |
| Important Limitations | The resolution of fine surface structures is lower than that of OCT | Requires better blood clearance, usually increased use of contrast media |
| Can't Replace Anything | Not a substitute for ischemic functional studies and overall clinical judgment | Not a substitute for ischemic functional studies and overall clinical judgment |
People Suitable For Cross-Border Elective Assessment
Cross-border medical treatment is only applicable to elective assessments when the condition is stable and can be safely waited. Whether suitable for travel must still be judged based on recent examinations and the opinions of local doctors.
More Suitable For People Who Are Cross-Border Elective Pre-Assessment
- Chest tightness/pain occurs repeatedly when walking briskly, climbing stairs or going uphill. It is relieved after resting and has not worsened recently.
- Coronary CTA indicates moderate to severe stenosis, or stress test, myocardial perfusion, and stress ultrasound indicate ischemia.
- She still has exertional angina after standard drug treatment and hopes to evaluate CAG and revascularization.
- Coronary angiography or PCI is recommended locally, hoping to obtain a second opinion, complex lesion strategy, or IVUS/OCT optimization.
- If chest pain occurs again after a previous stent, or in-stent restenosis/thrombosis is suspected, the failure mechanism needs to be determined.
- The local government recommended CABG and hoped that the Heart Team would compare PCI, CABG and drug therapy.
Emergency Exclusion, Preoperative Assessment And Safety Bottom Line
Local first aid should be provided immediately when emergency signs appear, and evaluation and reperfusion should not be delayed for cross-border elective treatment.
Symptoms You Should Not Wait Across Borders
- Resting chest pain lasts for more than a few minutes or recurs and becomes significantly worse.
- Chest pain with profuse sweating, difficulty breathing, syncope, severe fatigue, or unstable blood pressure.
- ECG/troponin suggest acute myocardial infarction or evolving acute coronary syndrome.
- Recent cardiac arrest, cardiogenic shock, malignant arrhythmias, or progressive heart failure.
Safety bottom line: If acute coronary syndrome is suspected, seek local emergency care and reperfusion first; do not delay for elective cross-border treatment. Source: 2025 ACC/AHA acute coronary syndrome guideline.
