Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS)

What is intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)?

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is a way to look at the inside of a blood vessel with high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound).

When is it used?

IVUS is usually done during a percutaneous coronary intervention (previously called angioplasty) or coronary angiogram. It can give your healthcare provider a close, detailed view inside an artery.

How do I prepare for the procedure?

Talk with your healthcare provider about what medicines you should take before the procedure. Your provider may prescribe medicine to prevent blood clots from forming during the procedure. If you are taking daily aspirin for a medical condition, ask your provider if you need to stop taking it before your surgery.

Follow the instructions your healthcare provider gives you. Eat a light meal the night before the procedure. You may be asked not to eat or drink anything for 12 hours before the procedure. Arrange for someone to drive you home afterward.

What happens during the procedure?

A thin, long, and flexible tube called a catheter is put through the skin in your groin or arm and into one of your arteries or veins. You will be given a shot to numb the area before the tube is inserted, but you will remain awake during the procedure.

Once the tube is inserted, it is guided to the artery being examined or treated. The tube has a probe at its tip that bounces ultrasound waves off the inside of the blood vessel. Images can be created from the echoes of the sound waves. Once the probe is in the right place, the ultrasound waves are used to create pictures of the inside of the artery.

At the end of the procedure, your healthcare provider will remove the catheter and put pressure on the area where the catheter was inserted (the puncture site) to control any bleeding.

What happens after the procedure?

After the procedure you may stay in an observation area for at least a few hours until there is little risk that you will have bleeding from the puncture site. After that you may go home. Avoid any strenuous activity for the rest of the day to prevent bleeding.

Ask your healthcare provider for specific instructions on how to take care of yourself at home. Make sure you know when you should come back for a checkup.

A bruise may appear near the puncture site and be uncomfortable for a few days.

What are the benefits of this procedure?

The detailed view of the inside of the artery will help your healthcare provider diagnose and treat your problem.

What are the risks of this procedure?

Possible risks include:

• The procedure can cause irregular heart rhythms, which could need treatment.
• If the catheter is placed in an artery, a blood clot could form around the catheter and block the artery.
• You may have bleeding where the catheter was inserted into your blood vessel.
• The catheter may damage a blood vessel.
• In rare cases, you may have an allergic reaction to the drug used in the anesthesia.
• While not common, a heart attack or stroke might be triggered by the procedure.

You should ask your healthcare provider how these risks apply to you.

When should I call my healthcare provider?

Call your provider right away if:

• The place where the catheter was put into your skin begins to bleed or swell, or it becomes more painful.
• Your leg or foot becomes cool or cold.
• You have slurred speech, balance problems, or trouble using your arm or leg.
• You develop a rash, itching, sweating, or trouble breathing.

Call during office hours if:

• You have questions about the procedure or its result.
• You want to make another appointment.

Written by Donald L. Warkentin, MD.
Published by RelayHealth.
© 2009 RelayHealth and/or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.