The city of Indore witnessed a historic moment in the field of interventional cardiology as it hosted the OCTI Conference 2025 on 6^th and 7^th September 2025, the first of its kind in Madhya Pradesh, focusing exclusively on advanced imaging and calcium modification in coronary interventions.

Organised under the leadership of Dr. K. Roshan Rao (President, CASI) and Dr. Sarita Rao (Organising Secretary, OCTI), the two-day event brought together leading cardiologists from across India and international. The conference showcased cutting-edge technologies keynote lectures, complex case presentations and interactive sessions, making it a milestone in academic exchange and clinical practice.

The Deputy Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, delivered his address, lauded the organisers for bringing such a world-class scientific platform to the state. He emphasised that initiatives like OCTI ensure patients in Madhya Pradesh now have access to cutting-edge cardiac care without needing to travel to metro cities, marking a new era in healthcare delivery.

The inauguration ceremony was graced by Dr. Ashok Bajpai, Medical Director, Apollo Rajshree Hospitals, Indore, Mr. Yogendra Bhargav, Director, Apollo Rajshree Hospitals, Indore,  Mr. Abhilash Pillai (COO & Unit Head, Apollo Rajshree Hospitals, Indore), Dr. Sushil Jain (Medical Superintendent, Apollo Rajshree Hospitals, Indore) and Mr. Suresh Sharma (Associate Director – India, Abbott Vascular), along with the organising leaders Dr. K. Roshan Rao (President, CASI, Head Cardiology, Apollo Rajshree Hospitals, Indore), Dr. Sarita Rao (Organising Secretary, OCTI, Director cathlab, Apollo Rajshree Hospitals, Indore, President, WINCARS Association, Co-chair EAPCI International & Partnership Affairs, SCAI & WIN-APSIC International Board member), Dr. Abhishek Rathore (Electrophysiologist and Interventional Cardiologist, Apollo Rajshree Hospitals, Indore), and Dr. Praveen Jaiswal (Interventional Cardiologist, Apollo Rajshree Hospitals, Indore). Their presence underscored the collaborative spirit between medical leaders, healthcare institutions, and industry partners that made OCTI possible.

Key Topics Discussed:

The scientific program revolved around Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) (OCT uses light to take very clear, detailed pictures from inside the heart’s blood vessels, so doctors can see blockages closely and place stents more safely), orbital atherectomy (OA) (Orbital Atherectomy is a treatment that breaks down hard calcium inside the heart’s blood vessel, making it easier for doctors to open the blood vessel and place a stent safely), and complex PCI strategies. 

Few topics included:

• OCT/IVUS Illumien Trial Keynote Lecture (Dr. Sanjeeb Roy, Jaipur)
• Role of OCT in Complex PCI Keynote Lecture (Dr. Viveka Kumar, Delhi)
• Decision-Making by OCT in Complex PCI (Dr. Nityanand Tripathi, Delhi)
• Ostial Lesions – Which DES Do I choose? (Dr. Subhash Chandra, Delhi)
• Role of AI in Imaging & Calcium Management (Dr. Nagendra Singh Chouhan, Gurgaon)
• Calcific Nodule – OA is the Answer (Dr. Sarita Rao, Indore)

In addition, multiple complex case presentations were delivered by national and international experts including Dr. Vivek Kumar, Dr. Shailesh Singh, Dr. Ranjit Kumar Sharma (Nepal), Dr. Bhushan Shah, Dr. Mitendra Singh Yadav, and others, offering practical insights into real-world challenges.

Conference Highlights

• The conference emphasized how OCT improves precision in stent placement and optimization, helps detect causes of in-stent restenosis, and ensures better post-PCI outcomes.
• Experts showcased the role of atherectomy devices in managing heavily calcified lesions, once considered among the toughest challenges in PCI.
• Sessions on ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE in OCT interpretation highlighted the future of imaging-driven decision-making with platforms like Ultreon 2.0.
• Case-based discussions demonstrated how imaging-guided interventions can reduce complications and improve long-term patient survival.

Outcomes

OCTI 2025 successfully created a platform for knowledge sharing, collaboration, and innovation. It reinforced Indore’s position as a hub of advanced cardiac care, ensuring that patients in the region can now access world-class interventions without the need to travel to metro cities.

The organisers also announced the upcoming Women Cardiac Care Conference 2026, to be hosted in Indore by the WINCARS Association in 14 and March 2026, further strengthening the city’s role in advancing cardiac science and care.