Yakutia's First IVUS-Guided Heart Surgery Saves Patient with Complex Artery Blockages

A 58-year-old patient has undergone a groundbreaking coronary procedure in Yakutia's Neryungri district. The operation marked the first use of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) at GKB RS (Y) 'Neryungrinsky CRB', the only facility in the Republic of Sakha offering this advanced imaging technique. Doctors successfully treated multiple artery lesions using a drug-eluting stent, guided by real-time ultrasound visualisation. The patient arrived with stable angina of effort class 3, requiring urgent intervention. A team of specialists, including interventional radiologist Dmitry Martemyanov and assistant Bikytbek Kachkynov, led the procedure. They used a single-use sterile probe to measure vessel diameters and pinpoint the ideal stent placement.

Anesthesiologist Elizaveta Gryadunova and operating nurses Svetlana Giliazutdinova and Tamara Popova assisted, alongside radiology technician Danil Razuvaev. After implanting the stent, the team performed a follow-up IVUS scan to fine-tune its position. This method, usually reserved for major cardiothoracic centres, proved critical for handling the patient's complex artery blockages. The hospital's modern IVUS system, unique in Yakutia, allowed for precise stent optimisation. Such technology is rarely available outside specialised urban clinics, making this a significant milestone for regional cardiac care.

The patient is now recovering in the general ward of the primary vascular department. Their condition is reported as satisfactory following the procedure. The successful use of IVUS at Neryungrinsky CRB expands treatment options for complex coronary cases in remote areas.