Dear Colleagues,

The practice of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has evolved rapidly in the past decades due to the introduction of drug-eluting stents (DES), improvements in implantation techniques and adjunct pharmacological therapies. However, coronary artery disease (CAD) remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in developed countries. As life expectancy increases, patients will more often present with high-risk comorbidities and complex CAD. Therefore, the need for continuous progress in the field of PCI remains. Despite the expanding range of application of PCI, interventional cardiologists are still challenged by technical difficulties, peri-procedural complications and high rates of restenosis especially in more complex cases such as chronic total occlusions (CTOs), highly calcified lesions, left main coronary artery stenosis, bifurcation lesions, and PCI in patients with poor left ventricular function needing left ventricular support therapy. Progress in the treatment of CAD is essential to address the medical, economic, and quality-of-life challenges associated with these conditions.

This special issue of Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine aims to present cutting-edge research dedicated to the treatment of complex CAD. We would like to invite researchers in the field of PCI to submit their state-of-the-art reviews, as well as original research, in this area. Themes suitable for this special issue include management of complex high-risk patients, challenging coronary anatomies, PCI-guided coronary physiology or intracoronary imaging, and pharmacological therapy (i.e., anti-platelet and anticoagulation therapy).

Thank you, and we look forward to your valuable input.

Dr. Marcel A.M. Beijk and Dr. A. Suzanne Vink
Guest Editors