Intravascular ultrasound imaging combined with coronary angioplasty

A novel catheter combining ultrasound imaging and coronary balloon angioplasty was used in the treatment of 69 coronary-artery lesions in 51 patients. The ultrasound transducer enables realtime cross-sectional imaging and qualitative and quantitative assessment of the vessel wall before and after angioplasty. The combination catheter successfully dilated 67 lesions. There was a characteristic three-layered appearance, representing intima, media, and adventitia, in 60 cases. Intravascular imaging provided information on the vessel wall unobtainable by standard contrast angiogaphy in 28 cases and influenced our management in 6 cases.