People suffering from cardiac problems seeking best of the treatment will not have to travel to metropolis or USA for the best of diagnostic techniques. The world class cardiac care diagnosis, Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS) that enables interventional cardiologists to study the heart arteries from 3D angles, is now available in nearer home in Jalandhar.Unveiling details of technology today, Director and Cardiologist Chawla Heart Care, Jalandhar Dr Raman Chawla said that this diagnostic technique gives better clarity to the interventional cardiologists helping them deliver accurate and precise treatment.
“The IVUS technique uses ultrasound waves to study arteries of heart. Since normal angiography can see arteries from one angle only, doctors have to take many views to study artery. In IVUS the diagnosis is driven by software or computer that enables to take 360 degree view of artery. It gives exact details of the level of disease and percentage of artery that is blocked, which are pivotal information pieces,” explained Dr Chawla.
He added that IVUS was the only technology that does tissue histology ascertaining whether it has calcium deposits or has tissues that are in repair or reactive process. He said adding that in Japan 8 of 10 cases are done with help of IVUS and in USA 1 out of 2 cases are done using it. The technology also confirms if the stent has settled within the contours and geography of the artery or not. Any displacement of wrongly placed stent can cause untold trauma to patient.
In India, the IVUS technology is available only in few big hospitals of metro cities. In north India Chawla Heart Care Center is the first one to bring this technology in entire Punjab, Haryana, Himachal, Jammu and Kashmir region. The well-awakened heart patients and their relatives from north India had to travel to USA, Mumbai or Delhi for treatment, which is now available nearer home. IVUS is also highly beneficial in diagnosing during complex cases or evaluation of complications. High risk patients of renal failure, limitations to dual anti-platelet therapy use, diabetics and those suffering from poor left ventricular function can especially use this technology for their advantage.
Using IVUS, a cardiologist is able to decide the course of treatment which could include pre-dilatation of arteries, modification of plaque settled in arteries, help him select stent as per the size and length required, help him medically manage the patient and at times no treatment may be required at all. The IVUS guided stent procedures avert common problems of geographic miss, stent fitting and expansion on which the success rate of stenting depends.The inauguration function is attended by Eminent people like Dr D S Gambhir , Delhi , Dr Cheema , (Education Minister Punjab), Dr Basan (Civil surgeon Jalandhar ), Vibhav Garg , Prof Lavi Raj , Dean Lovely Professional University and IMA Functionaries Jalandhar Dr Chawla conducted a live demonstration of machine today evening.