Intravenous intravascular ultrasound for arterial visualization: a feasibility study

The advent of endovascular grafting has created detailed imaging requirements for which intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) may be useful. Since intra-arterial IVUS imaging uses space within endovascular graft delivery systems and risks embolism, we investigated the use of intravenous IVUS imaging of arterial vasculature and endovascular grafts, a technique that appears not to have been previously described.

IVUS catheters with 12.5- and 20-MHz transducers were inserted through the common femoral artery and vein of mature sheep. Transcutaneous images were also obtained with a 5-MHz linear transducer. B-mode images of the aortoiliac arterial segments and diameter measurements were recorded from both access vessels using anatomic landmarks for site localization. To assess device visualization from the intravenous image source, studies were done in vessels containing previously placed endovascular stent-grafts.

In this feasibility study, comparison among intravenous IVUS, arterial IVUS, and external ultrasound indicated equal diameter precision and ability to recognize arterial structures. Comparison of arterial diameter, whether obtained from an arterial, venous, or transcutaneous source, showed similar values.

We conclude that it is probable for such techniques to be usefully applied to human aortoiliac arterial segments and that further investigation of arterial visualization from adjacent venous structures is warranted.