Intravascular Ultrasound Applications for Endoaortic Surgery

Abstract

Unlike traditional cardiac ultrasound that uses an exterior probe and is limited to imaging between the patient’s ribs or a transesophageal probe, intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) uses a miniature ultrasound transducer mounted on the tip of a catheter. Due to its intraluminal perspective, IVUS imaging provides information that supplements angiography. Standard IVUS catheters for imaging the aorta use a 9 French (F) delivery sheath and a 0.035″ guidewire, but smaller catheters do exist, such as the Eagle Eye gold catheter (Volcano; San Diego, CA, USA), which uses a 0.014″ guidewire. The ultrasound transducer emits and receives signals at 12.5, 20, or 30 MHz, producing an axial image (or frame) similar to cuts from computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Increased MHz size results in a more detailed image (“Near vision”), whereas a lower MHz results in more penetration with a larger field of view.