American College of Cardiology Clinical Expert Consensus Document on Standards for Acquisition, Measurement and Reporting of Intravascular Ultrasound Studies (IVUS). A Report of the American College of Cardiology Task Force on Clinical Expert Consensus Documents Developed in Collaboration with the European Society of Cardiology Endorsed by the Society of Cardiac Angiography and Interventions

Abstract

Preamble: The present document is an Expert Consensus Document that includes evidence about the standards for the acquisition, measurement, and reporting of intravascular ultrasound studies (IVUS). This document is intended to inform practitioners, payers, and other interested parties of the opinion of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) concerning evolving areas of clinical practice and/or technologies that are widely available or new to the practice community. Topics chosen for coverage by Expert Consensus Documents are so designed because the evidence base and experience with technology or clinical practice are not considered sufficiently well developed to be evaluated by the formal ACC/American Heart Association (AHA) Practice Guidelines process. Often, the topic is the subject of considerable ongoing investigation. Thus, the reader should view the Expert Consensus Document as the best attempt of the ACC to inform and guide clinical practice in those areas where rigorous evidence may not yet be available or the evidence to date is not widely accepted. When feasible, Expert Consensus Documents include indications or contraindications. Some topics covered by Expert Consensus Documents will be addressed subsequently by the ACC/AHA Practice Guidelines Committee. The Task Force on Clinical Expert Consensus Documents makes every effort to avoid any actual or potential conflicts of interest that might arise as a result of an outside relationship or personal interest of a member of the writing panel. Specifically, all members of the writing panel are asked to provide disclosure statements to inform the writing effort of all such relationships that might be perceived as real or potential conflicts of interest.