information about ultrasound angioplasty?

Answer 1

Ultrasound angioplasty -
A treatment to improve the blood supply to the heart muscle.

This treatment appears to still to be undergoing tests for safety and effectiveness.

The following study is quoted from www.pubmed.gov.

BASIS AND AIM OF STUDY: Low-frequency, high-intensity ultrasound has been shown, both in vivo and in vitro, selectively to remove arteriosclerotic plaques and thrombi. This study was undertaken to investigate the safety and effectiveness of intracoronary ultrasound angioplasty. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ultrasound coronary angioplasty (UCA) with highly flexible ultrasound catheters (1.2 mm or 1.7 mm probe tip) was performed in 50 patients (36 men, 14 women; mean age 64.7 [33-79] years) with coronary heart disease involving one (n = 26 or several (n = 24) vessels. Indications for treatment were exercise-induced (n = 35) or unstable (n = 14) angina or acute myocardial infarction (n = 11). Treated lesions were in the anterior interventricular branch (n = 25), circumflex branch of the left coronary artery (n = 3) and right coronary artery (n = 22). 19 vessels were occluded, 24 lesions were partially thrombosed, 19 were calcified. 22 stenoses were longer than 20 mm. According to AHA/ACC criteria, 10 type A, 17 type B1, 6 type B2 and 17 type C lesions were treated. RESULTS: Total ultrasound time was 336 +/- 308 s; mean passing time through the stenosis was 233 +/- 289 (10-556) s. 17 of 19 occlusions were recanalised after 285 +/- 224 s. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTCA) was subsequently performed in 49 patients. The mean stenosis grade was reduced by UCA from initially 82 +/- 3 to 64 +/- 2% and by subsequent PTCA to 38 +/- 1%. Average flow grade rose from 1.5 to 1.9 after UCA and to 2.8 after PTCA. No vasospasm, atrioventricular block or perforation was caused by UCA. Angiography demonstrated dissection after PTCA in seven patients, treated in two with a stent. Both UCA and PTCA failed to achieve recanalization in one patient with a thrombotic occluded coronary artery after acute myocardial infarction. In all other patients there were no complications. CONCLUSION: The results show UCA to be a safe method for removing high-degree coronary artery stenosis or recanalize thrombotic occlusions.

Answer 2

Ultrasound angioplasty means plastic repair of blood vessels or lymphatic channels using ultrasound scanner. The blood clot that causes a heart attack may not act alone. Hidden plaque ruptures may cause further damage, according to a three-dimensional ultrasound study. High-resolution pictures available with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) will be processed to get three-dimensional (3-D) pictures of the inside the three major coronary arteries and they are useful to treat and to improve the blood supply to the heart muscle. It is also used to locate the block in arteries of the leg and to open the blood vessels. Percutaneous peripheral ultrasound angioplasty 1) is useful for recanalization of fibrous, calcific and thrombotic arterial occlusions; 2) reduces arterial stenoses