What Is the Time Duration for IVUS?
What Are the Common Uses of the Intravascular Echocardiography Procedure?
How to Prepare for Intravascular Echocardiography?
What Does the Equipment of Intravascular Echocardiography Look Like?
How Is the Intravascular Echocardiography Procedure Performed?
What to Expect During & After the Intravascular Echocardiography Procedure?
What are the Benefits of the Intravascular Echocardiography Procedure?
What Are the Risks of the Intravascular Echocardiography Procedure?
Contact Dr. Arun for Intravascular Echocardiography
Intravascular Echocardiography (IVUS), also known as intravascular ultrasound, is a minimally invasive medical procedure used to assess the heart & its surrounding structures, and to visualize the interior of blood vessels. IVUS is a safe and effective way to assess blockages in coronary arteries & the severity of coronary artery disease, and to guide interventions such as angioplasty and stenting.
What Is the Time Duration for IVUS?
The procedure is usually performed on an outpatient basis. It is usually well tolerated, and takes around 30-60 minutes to complete.
What Are the Common Uses of the Intravascular Echocardiography Procedure?
Common uses for Intravascular Echocardiography include diagnosing heart conditions, evaluating heart function, and determining the best course of treatment for heart disease.
How to Prepare for Intravascular Echocardiography?
To prepare for Intravascular Echocardiography, your doctor will likely order several tests, including a coronary angiogram, which is an X-ray of the arteries surrounding the heart. You may also have an echocardiogram, which is an ultrasound of the heart, and a stress test, which is used to evaluate how well the heart functions during physical activity. Also, if you are scheduled to undergo IVUS, you will likely be asked to fast for 6-8 hours prior to the procedure. You will also be asked to refrain from smoking or using any nicotine products for at least 24 hours prior to the procedure.
What Does the Equipment of Intravascular Echocardiography Look Like?
IVUS uses a small catheter, a small ultrasound transducer, and a monitor.
How Is the Intravascular Echocardiography Procedure Performed?
IVUS uses a small catheter that is inserted into the blood vessel through a needle puncture. The catheter is then threaded through the vessel to the area of interest. A small ultrasound transducer at the tip of the catheter emits sound waves that are reflected back to the transducer. These reflections are then converted into images that are displayed on a monitor.
What to Expect During & After the Intravascular Echocardiography Procedure?
During the procedure, you will be asked to lie still on your back on an exam table. Your vital signs will be monitored and you may be given oxygen through a nasal cannula. A local anesthetic will be injected into your skin where the IVUS catheter will be inserted. This small catheter is inserted into an artery in the arm or leg, and threaded through the blood vessels to the heart. A transducer at the tip of the catheter emits sound waves that produce images of the heart structures on a monitor. There is usually no downtime after the procedure, and you can typically return to your normal activities immediately.
What are the Benefits of the Intravascular Echocardiography Procedure?
IVUS is a useful tool for diagnosing heart conditions and can be used to measure the size and thickening of the heart walls, as well as the size and number of plaque deposits in the arteries. The procedure is also used to assess heart valve function and to guide interventional procedures such as coronary angioplasty and stenting.
What Are the Risks of the Intravascular Echocardiography Procedure?
It is a safe and minimally invasive procedure that is typically well tolerated by patients. IVUS is generally well tolerated and has a low risk of complications.
Contact Dr. Arun for Intravascular Echocardiography
If you are scheduled for Intravascular Echocardiography, you can talk to Dr. Arun about what to expect during and after the procedure.
