The Golden Jubilee Hospital has recruited its first patients into a trial using technology which could improve the treatment of complex narrowed heart arteries.

The OCTOBER (OCT) Trial will monitor patients with angina or stabilised heart attacks who are found to have a significant narrowing involving a branch point within the artery.

These branch points are one of the most problematic for interventional cardiologists who say treating this type of heart disease with stents carries a higher risk of the stent narrowing, or acutely blocking, over time.

Stuart Watkins, consultant cardiologist and principle investigator, said: “The trial aims to investigate if using OCT to treat narrowed arteries involving a branch point is beneficial to patients compared to the standard procedure.

“OCT provides the most detailed images of inside a patient’s artery that we can get, giving the cardiologist a lot of information which can help guide the procedure and ensure we achieve an excellent result.

“We have randomised the first Scottish patient into the trial and are currently actively screening for patients, who have complex coronary artery disease, who can participate and possibly benefit from this technology and new way of working.”

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Scotland’s first patient in the trial, David Newman, said since his stent was done his health has improved dramatically.

He said: “When I visited my GP shortly after my stent operation I was told the results were ‘excellent’ and that I could go back to my normal life.

“I’ve climbed my first hill post-op with two of my nephews and I was amazed at how much easier I found it. I feel so much better and I’m very grateful that I’ve been given the chance to get back to my former fitness so quickly.”