Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS) - An effective "assistant" in interventional treatment of coronary artery disease

The article is professionally consulted by the Doctor of Cardiology Interventional Unit, Vinmec Times City International General Hospital.

Intravascular ultrasound is an advanced technique that directly and accurately assesses the condition of atherosclerosis, calcification, dissection, ... coronary arteries, providing the opportunity for more effective treatment for patients with coronary artery disease. heart-related diseaes.

Intravascular UltraSound (IVUS) is one of the advancements in the field of Interventional Cardiology.
This method uses an ultrasound probe attached to the tip of the catheter to insert it into the coronary artery, thereby bringing back images of the blood vessel wall, of atheroma... to help accurately survey the extent of the damage. coronary artery injury, evaluate the narrow lumen area, as well as the area and volume of coronary atherosclerotic plaque ...
IVUS ultrasound is an additional diagnostic method for coronary angiography, helping doctors Doctors can intervene to treat coronary atherosclerosis more accurately.

Intravascular ultrasound is indicated in the following cases:
When it is necessary to investigate accurately and in detail the lesions in the coronary arteries, helping to make appropriate indications in the treatment of coronary atherosclerosis for patients with coronary artery disease. cases where it is difficult to make decisions based on coronary angiography alone, such as: Injury to the left coronary artery; Coronary stenosis is moderate, observed on angiography, the degree of stenosis is 40% - 70% of the lumen diameter; Lesions at the branching site, diffuse long lesions; When it is necessary to investigate the situation of restenosis after stenting; When the lesion image on angiography is fuzzy, it is difficult to make an accurate assessment; Chronic obstructive lesions: accurately assess the condition to pass the conductor; Evaluation of the results of therapeutic intervention, coronary artery stenting has been optimal or not; Assess damage, structure of coronary atherosclerotic plaque and some other special disorders in coronary arteries;

IVUS ultrasound has now been applied in coronary intervention with the following advantages: being able to characterize the composition of blood vessel walls, coronary atherosclerotic plaques, lumen size and guide the intervention method to be able to choose the most appropriate treatment for each specific case in coronary intervention. Intravascular ultrasound can assess lumen diameter more accurately than conventional angiography. It is thanks to this difference that doctors can choose interventions that are more suitable for patients.
In terms of diagnostic support, IVUS ultrasound helps to evaluate the results of therapeutic interventions anatomically (such as the minimum cross-sectional area after the procedure) and detect complications ( including coronary artery dissection, stent thrombosis, intravascular hematoma, coronary artery rupture, etc.). Many studies have shown a certain association between suboptimal stenting and the likelihood of stent thrombosis. In addition, intravascular ultrasound is also more sensitive than traditional angiography in detecting coronary artery dissection-related lesions after therapeutic intervention.
Intervention results under the guidance of IVUS ultrasound have a lower rate of restenosis than when patients are treated under the classical guidance of coronary angiography. Thus, the study and application of IVUS intravascular ultrasound in diagnosis and treatment of coronary artery disease will bring many outstanding benefits to patients such as: more accurate; Specify the treatment direction more suitable for each specific patient; Prevention of serious and life-threatening complications related to the procedure; Reduce the rate of coronary re-stenosis and the risk of death after intervention; Reduce long-term treatment costs for both the patient and the health insurance fund; Currently, Intra-Coronary Ultrasound has been deployed at Vinmec International General Hospital system. The technical process and equipment for endoscopy at Vinmec meet international standards and are always guaranteed high quality and in accordance with the process. The technique performed by Vinmec's experienced team of leading medical doctors will give accurate and reliable results.