Experts publish first-ever consensus for appropriate use of intravascular ultrasound

International experts representing multiple medical specialties have agreed on the first-ever guidelines for using intravascular ultrasound in vascular disease cases.

A global committee of 40 cross-specialty experts revealed their recommendations for appropriately using IVUS in patients with peripheral vascular disease on Monday during Vascular Interventional Advances 2021 in Las Vegas.

Until now, providers have not had many standards for using IVUS, leading to widespread inconsistencies. While there’s still more work to be done, this new update may be incorporated into clinical guidelines and enhance care in patients with these common circulatory problems.

“The results of the cross-specialty expert consensus demonstrate strong support for the use of IVUS during peripheral interventions,” Eric A. Secemsky, MD, interventional cardiologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and assistant professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, said in a statement. “Future efforts need to focus on improving IVUS implementation into clinical practice and streamlining procedural workflow to help improve our patient outcomes.”

IVUS utilizes a tiny ultrasound transducer placed on the tip of a catheter to capture real-time images inside vessels. The technique helps physicians develop treatment plans and verify therapeutic results. 

Royal Philips, which has its own line of IVUS solutions, praised the new guidelines.

“We commend these global, cross-specialty experts, on their commitment to identifying the appropriate uses of IVUS to standardize procedures in order to improve outcomes for peripheral vascular patients worldwide,” said Chris Landon, senior vice president and general manager of Image Guided Therapy Devices at the company.