Role of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in determining the therapeutic strategy for the patients with intermediate coronary lesions

BACKGROUND: Coronarography presents some limits in assessing intermediate stenosis. Intravascular ultrasound provides tridimensional measurements of the artery, with more reliable data guiding revascularization decision. AIMS: to evaluate the impact of intravascular ultrasound measurements on revascularization decision of intermediate and ambiguous coronary lesions. METHODS: We prospectively analysed 40 patients' coronary arteries from March 2009 to November 2011 by both quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) then intravascular ultrasound, and compared our decision before and after intravascular ultrasound. RESULTS: in the final revascularization decision after intravascular ultrasound, medical treatment rate raised from 22% to 25%, percutaneous coronary intervention dropped from 55% to 50%, and coronary artery bypass graft slightly raised from 23% to 25%. Therapeutic decision changed after intravascular ultrasound in 47% of patients (p=0,01), which reflects an important impact of this technique in management of intermediate coronary lesions. CONCLUSION: Intravascular ultrasound provided more accurate measurements which permitted a better detection of ischemia and influenced notably our therapeutic strategies.