Dignity Health - St. Rose Dominican Hospitals: Using the Volcano s51™ Imaging System in Las Vegas, NV
The Volcano s5i™ imaging system is a brand of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). IVUS uses harmless sound waves to create images of the internal structure of blood vessels, particularly the coronary arteries. These arteries supply blood and oxygen to the heart muscle. Doctors typically perform IVUS during a cardiac catheterization procedure (such as an angiogram or angioplasty).
At Dignity Health - St. Rose Dominican hospitals, we want to provide you with the most advanced care available, which is why we use the Volcano s51 imaging system in Las Vegas and Henderson, NV. Find a Doctor to learn more about our cardiology services.
Why We Use IVUS Imaging
IVUS provides your doctor with detailed images of the inside of your coronary arteries. It helps the doctor see blockages and narrowed portions of the blood vessel. Doing this lets your doctor determine if it is necessary to place a stent in the artery to maintain adequate blood flow.
Doctors at Dignity Health - St. Rose Dominican's San Martin and Siena Campuses also use IVUS to check the placement of a coronary artery stent and ensure it is completely deployed. This helps reduce complications from stent placement.
What to Expect from Volcano s5i Imaging System
IVUS performed with the Volcano s5i imaging system is usually provided during a cardiac catheterization procedure. You will not be aware that the ultrasound is being performed during the overall procedure.
A cardiac catheterization may take place in a hospital or an outpatient facility, depending on the type of procedure. You will receive sedation to keep you drowsy and reduce any pain. The cardiologist will make an incision in your groin to access a large artery, and then gently thread a very thin guide wire into your artery and up to the heart. Once the wire has reached the coronary arteries, the doctor can perform various procedures, including IVUS using the Volcano s5i imaging system, fractional flow reserve (FFR) testing, or stent placement.
Recovery after Procedures Using the Volcano s5i
Having IVUS using the Volcano s5i imaging system does not add any time to your recovery. After a cardiac catheterization, you will stay in a recovery area for an hour or more while the incision seals completely. If you received a stent during the procedure, you probably will stay overnight in the hospital. Otherwise, you will be able to go home a few hours after the procedure. You will need someone to drive you.
Your Dignity Health - St. Rose Dominican care team will give you instructions about incision care, bathing, activities, and other items before you go home. You should report any bleeding or swelling at the incision site, high fever, heart palpitations, or any other unusual symptoms.
As a minimally invasive procedure, IVUS usually results in a short, simple recovery.
Dignity Health - St. Rose Dominican's San Martin and Siena hospitals use diagnostic procedures, such as the Volcano s51 imaging system, in Las Vegas and Henderson, NV.