The next seven minutes could save your life. Home | Why We Do This | Health Library | Find a Doctor | Contact Conditions Procedures Ablation Pacemakers Atherectomy Valvuloplasty Carotid Stents Septal Closures Coil Embolization Coronary Stents Peripheral Stents Medicated Stents IVC Umbrella Placement Thrombolytic Treatment Angiojet Thrombectomy Intraaortic Balloon Pump Coronary Catheterization Radiation Brachytheraphy Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty Automatic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty MID-CAB Bypass Surgery Thoracic Endograph Heart Transplantation Valve Repair Surgery Abdominal Endograph Valve Replacement Surgery Carotid Endarterectomy Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair Transmyocardial Revascularization Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery Tilt Table MRI/MRA Aortagram Stress Test Event Recorder Ross Procedure Maze Procedure Holter Monitoring Myocardial Biopsy Nuclear Stress Test Stress Echocardiogram Electrophysiology Pulmonary Angiography Intracardiac Ultrasound Dobutamine Stress Echo Intravascular Ultrasound Echocardiography Electrocardiogram Coronary Balloon Angioplasty Peripheral Vascular Angiography Transesophageal Echocardiogram Signal Averaged Electrocardiogram Computed Axial Tomography Prevention Intravascular Ultrasound (ICE) Why is the doctor performing this test? To view the inner lining of the coronary (heart) or peripheral vascular (e.g. lower abdomen, kidneys, arms, legs) arteries. Intravascular Ultrasound allows detailed evaluation of plaque (Atherosclerosis)--its distribution, location, size, effect on blood vessel diameter--that may be lining the inside of your arteries. This information is used to evaluate cardiovascular disease which assists in determining the next step in treatment if needed (i.e. angioplasty or bypass surgery). What is the test? Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS) is an invasive diagnostic test using a catheter with a sound transducer (or sound probe) on the end. It is usually performed in conjunction with Angiography/Catheterization and/or Transcatheter interventions (e.g. PTCA, Stent, etc.) The catheter is threaded thru the artery in the groin to a specific location of the arterial system to further diagnose the extent of disease. High-frequency sound waves are used to create precise images of the inner arterial walls. These images are displayed in streaming video on a monitor. Once the diagnosis is made, the catheter with the ultrasound tip attached is carefully removed, and then pressure is applied over the groin area to stop any bleeding. Where is the test performed? In the Cardiac Catheterization Lab. How long does this test take? Intravascular ultrasound usually takes thirty to sixty minutes. A community service provided by: Colorado Springs, CO 2008-2012, Copyright, Memorial Health System |  Site Map