Cor Vasa 2002, 43(1):24-30

Intravascular ultrasound and the current potential of its use

Tomáš Kovárník^*, Vít Řezníček, Alfréd Hornig, Kateřina Nováčková, Michael Aschermann

II. interní klinika Všeobecné fakultní nemocnice a 1. lékařské fakulty Univerzity Karlovy, Praha, Česká republika

Intravascular ultrasound is a diagnostic technique enabling one both to look into the arterial lumen and to assess the vessel wall. It is irreplaceable in vivo measurement of vessel wall remodeling and in evaluating atherosclerotic plaque characteristics. It allows exact measurement of the vessel lumen, diameter, and the atherosclerotic plaque. IVUS plays a major role before, during and after coronary intervention (indication for intervention, assessment of outcome, diagnosis of complications).
The authors address in detail the technique of IVUS and summarize current indications for IVUS in interventional cardiology including the limitations and potential complications of the technique.

Keywords: Intravascular ultrasound; Atherosclerosis; Stent; Coronary angioplasty

Published: January 1, 2002  Show citation