ABSTRACT
The use of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) has exerted a strong influence in the strategy of stent positioning. The Colombo group documented with IVUS incomplete stent apposition to the vessel wall and residual narrowings within the stented segments in a high percentage of cases, despite the achievement of optimal angiographic results.1-4 The attainment of a substantial increase of lumen dimen sions and the elimination of residual narrowing in the stented segment obtained with IVUS translate into two major clinical benefits: a large reduction of the incidence of subacute stent thrombosis and a decrease in the restenosis rate.5-9
Rationale for the use of three-dimensional reconstruction of intravascular ultrasound for guidance of stent deployment
The current assessment of proper stent expansion by two-dimensional IVUS requires a cumbersome and subjective review of the examination at each step of the procedure, selecting and measuring the minimal cross-sectional area within the stented segment and two appropriate reference crosssectional areas proximal and distal to the stent. These limitations can be overcome by a recently developed, fully automated, on-line, three-dimen sional reconstruction system that facilitates stenting guidance by providing a proper definition of longi tudinal vessel architecture before and after stent positioning.
