title: Intravascular ultrasound and balloon percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.
abstract: Intracoronary ultrasound provides unique information during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), including more accurate measurement of vessel size and plaque burden as well as plaque characteristics such as composition and distribution. As a research tool, it has been useful in determining the mechanisms of PTCA, which primarily involves vessel stretch, plaque fracture/dissection, and plaque redistribution. It may be clinically useful in assessing lesion severity in patients with indeterminate clinical and angiographic findings. Plaque characteristics as determined by intracoronary ultrasound may also be helpful in developing an individualized interventional approach for each lesion. Finally, certain intracoronary ultrasound findings after PTCA, such as large dissections and large residual stenosis, are associated with increased risk of short-term and long-term adverse outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories, Tulane University Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Tenaglia
mesh_terms: D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D012449:Safety; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*