Evidence for Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS) in PAD

Evidence for IVUS in PAD

This episode uncovers the compelling evidence behind Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS), a technology that is revolutionizing the treatment of Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) by fixing the fundamental flaw of traditional angiography: its "2D shadow" limitation.

• The Problem with Angiography: Standard X-ray imaging forces doctors to guess the size of 3D arteries from 2D pictures, leading to poor device sizing and missed complications like dissections.

• The IVUS Advantage: IVUS provides a 360-degree blueprint from inside the artery, allowing for precise sizing and detection of calcified plaque that angiography misses.

• Real-World Impact: A massive analysis of 500,000 patients showed that using IVUS is associated with a stunning 27% reduction in Major Adverse Limb Events (MALE) and a significant drop in major amputations.

• The "Wow" Stat: In a randomized trial, IVUS findings forced doctors to change their treatment plan in nearly 79% of cases, proving that standard angiography leads to suboptimal decisions four out of five times.

• Barriers to Use: Despite this data, IVUS is used in only ~12% of cases due to poor hospital reimbursement policies that penalize better care, highlighting a critical need for systemic reform.

Tune in to learn why IVUS isn't a luxury—it's a necessity for better outcomes and limb preservation.