70 Years old man who was in emergency conditions of renal failure and heart attack which required immediate medications was brought to Geetanjali Medical College & Hospital, Udaipur. The patient then underwent Angioplasty without the use of contrast and with the help of latest technology of IVUS (Intra-Vascular Ultrasound Sonography) which claims to be the first successful case in Southern Rajasthan’s Medical History. The team of Cardiologists of Geetanjali Cardiac Centre included Dr. Ramesh Patel, Dr. Harish Sanadhya & Dr. CP Purohit and Dr. Nikhil & Dr. Lokesh Prajapat assisting the case.

Dr. Ramesh Patel said that heart attack, blockage of more than 80% in heart’s arteries and renal failure lead the admission of patient at GMCH. On treating the blockage of first artery, the contrast of angioplasty contradicted allergic reactions to the patient. The patients suffering from renal failure could never be treated of heart blockages with contrast through angiography or angioplasty. Later, it was decided to perform angioplasty with IVUS. The procedure took only 30 minutes to save the life. This technology will prove a boon for the patients suffering from renal failure.

What is IVUS (Intra-Vascular Ultrasound Sonography)?

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is a medical imaging methodology using a specially designed catheter with a miniaturized ultrasound probe attached to the distal end of the catheter. The proximal end of the catheter is attached to computerized ultrasound equipment. The arteries of the heart (the coronary arteries) are the most frequent imaging target for IVUS. IVUS is used in the coronary arteries to determine the amount of atheromatous plaque built up at any particular point in the epicardial coronary artery.

What if the procedure through IVUS could not be done?

If any hospital is not having this technology installed then open heart surgery was the last resource available. Because angioplasty/angiography is performed through contrast which was leading to allergic reactions, said Dr. Patel. Also, open heart surgery was also very risky and complicated due to renal failure.