The IMPROVE study, conducted internationally across multiple centres, aims to determine if using extra ultrasound imaging during heart procedures can enhance patient outcomes.
The study is examining whether percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), a non-surgical procedure that uses a stent to treat narrowing of the coronary arteries, can be improved with the use of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).
Primary investigator Dr Abdul Mozid said, “We are very proud to have been the first UK site to recruit to this major international study which will hopefully definitively answer a very important question in the field of coronary angioplasty and stenting. This could impact the way we perform our procedures and improve clinical outcomes for patients.
IVUS uses a specially designed catheter with a small ultrasound probe attached to one end to provide imaging to guide the clinical team working with patients. The IMPROVE study looks to assess if this approach is effective in reducing further episodes of coronary heart events. This significant research is led by the esteemed MedStar Cardiovascular Research Network based in Washington, USA.