Intra-arterial ultrasound: a potential tool for the vascular surgeon. Clinical review

Intra-arterial ultrasound is a new real-time imaging technique using a miniaturized transducer in a catheter to image diseased arteries. The small size and close proximity to the structures being imaged allow the use of frequencies from 20-40 MHz, resulting in high resolution images. In addition to the stenotic lumen, it is possible to examine the composition and eccentricity of the plaque, as well as structures outside of the vessel. Such information can be used for planning and evaluating vascular interventions. The addition of Doppler measurements allows the evaluation of function as well as anatomy. Research applications include studies of lesion progression, measurement of arterial elasticity, quantitative blood flow velocities and study of intra-arterial flow patterns. Although this technique is in its infancy, it is highly probable that it will prove to be a useful aid to the vascular surgeon.