Intravascular ultrasound virtual histology imaging in acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction: A useful clinical tool during primary percutaneous coronary intervention

Abstract

We described the novel use of intravascular ultrasound-virtual histology (IVUS-VH) imaging in two young adult male patients who presented with acute inferior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and we highlight the usefulness of this new invasive coronary imaging technique. Both patients had thrombotic occlusion of the right coronary arteries but the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms leading to acute thrombosis were different. The in vivo information obtained by IVUS-VH imaging was invaluable in pinpointing the likely etiology of STEMI and thus, guided our primary percutaneous coronary intervention strategy appropriately.

Keywords::

• Myocardial infarction
• imaging
• ultrasound

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