Reproducibility of grayscale and radiofrequency IVUS data acquisition in stented coronary arteries

Abstract

Objectives. Variability in data acquisition from intervened coronary arteries could represent a source of error that has implications for the design of serial stent studies. We assessed inter-pullback reproducibility of volumetric grayscale and radiofrequency intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) data in stented coronary arteries. Design. Fifteen patients with coronary artery lesions treated with stent implantation were included and examined with two separate pullbacks using the Eagle Eye Gold-phased array 20 MHz IVUS catheter (Volcano). The arteries were divided into five segments, giving a total of 150 sub-segments for analyses. Matching of frames was performed using landmarks that were clearly visible in coronary angiography and intravascular pullbacks. Data were analyzed off-line at an independent Corelab. Results. The inter-pullback reproducibility of geometrical data was very good for non-stented segments with relative differences less than 5% between pullbacks for lumen-, vessel-, and plaque volumes. For stented segments reproducibility was poorer with relative differences between pullbacks in the range of 5–10%. The inter-pullback reproducibility of compositional data demonstrated large standard deviations of relative differences, indicating a weaker agreement. Conclusions. Agreements between pullbacks were weaker in stented than those in non-stented segments. Based on our data, future longitudinal IVUS studies in intervened vessels should account for a variability of 5–10% attributed to the acquisition of images.

Key words::

• coronary stent
• IVUS
• reproducibility

Acknowledgments

We appreciate the assistance of Tove Vindsetmo, Ann Mari Myraunet and Anita Størdal at the Angiolab at St.Olav's University Hospital in inclusion of patients.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no declarations of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

The study was conducted with funding from The Liaison Committee for Central Norway Regional Health Authority and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, the Reserarch Fund at St.Olav's University Hospital, the Norwegian Council on Cardiovascular Disease, and the Norwegian Council for Public Health.