Introduction
It is critical to understand that mechanical interventions and thrombolytic therapy are the commonly used approaches to treat both venous and arterial thrombotic complications. However, this approaches offer several limitations that are hard to ignore. First and foremost, there is a possibility of excessive bleeding and damage to the walls of the blood vessel. Secondly, the approach may fail to reach reperfusion. Thus, the use and application of ultra-sound accelerated thrombosis offer an entire revolution in vascular medicine. Again, the technologyis meant to withstand the test of time. Cleary, the technology has reduced the body dosage that would be given to a patient while also it has managed to produce the desired results or rather the expected outcome (Simonian, 2009).
Synopsis
Primarily, it is of importance to understand the composition of the blood clot. Also, the essay focuses on how ultrasound overcomes the clot (Nahirnyak& Holland, 2006). A blood clot is composed of fibrin as its central element that threads themselves together forming net-like structure. Use of ultrasound loosens the linking structures of the fibrin. In so doing, it facilitates the thrombolytic to get in the clot, which also helps the drugs administered to enter the clot directly. Ultrasound can be delivered by the use of the catheter or by transcutaneously to break the clots into small fragments and thus ease drug transport. According to the essay, there is a clear motivation for developing ultrasound in heightening thrombolysis and an established proof of its potential in vascular medicine.
Similarly, mechanical thrombectomycan be compared to the ultra-sound, but the difference exists in that the prior is concerned with producing high pressure. The pressure is then exerted on the clot for it to break. In return, this can easily damage the walls of the blood vessels especially those of the veins, which are far more delicate, compared to those of the arteries. Again, this approach may not appropriate for older clots, which may have stronger fibrin links. Therefore, the use of ultrasound overcomes all these disadvantages and appears to be a close, better, and a gentler substitute. Mechanical thrombectomy not only breaks the blood clot but also the blood itself. It may cause complications such that the elements of the blood are broken down, which may cause changes in the heart rate. Sometimes, the impacts may be fatal leading to kidney problems and hemolysis (Segal & Hofmann, 2007).
In ordinary cases, the valves contained in the veins prevent the backflow of blood. Sometimes, an event may exist such that blood clot may affect these valves, whereby they are unable to function properly. In return, creating a post-thrombotic syndrome where blood accumulates in the leg causing swelling and change in the color of the skin on the affected area. Evidently, clots cause severe problems if they are not attended to on time. Besides, ulcerations can develop which are far much irritating and very painful because of the accumulated pressure (Simonian, 2009). Treatment at this stage is involving and requires a lot of care. Nevertheless, in most instances the process cannot be reversed; instead, the treatment and healing of the wound become the only option. Therefore, it is important that the patient does not wait until this stage of illness.
Ultra-sound accelerated thrombolysis is used in stroke treatment (Hamilton-Craig & Dunning, 2008). As a result, of this, ultra-sound is driven with an unchanging cavitation, occurring in the nucleus by an extract of an echo-differentiating agent. The agent triggers recombinant tissue plasminogen activator thrombolysis. The optimal of this gently effervescent phenomenon has the possibility to down-slope the morbidness and mortality rate of the patients with ischemic stroke. Apparently, ultrasound has shown to add recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) thrombolysis through an unchanging cavitation. The method yields better results and is more efficient.
A new treatment that limits the whole-body dose of rtPA at the same time maintaining its efficacy in a space controlled fashion. This could significantly lower the bleeding complications as compared to the other forms of treatment. Adjunctive, the usage of ultrasound bubble driven activity throughout the endovenousrtPA administration has the potential to enhance the clot buster therapy. A substantial figure of microbubble formulations, closely, which have been approved by Food and Drug Administration to be ultrasound counterpoint agents of, that make it possible for the use ultrasound under low pressure that yields smaller amplitudes that promote stable cavitation, thereby reducing the potential for adverse ultrasonic bioeffects. Ongoing in vitro, in vivo and ex vivo studies,are directed at growing this promising technique. (Hamilton-Craig & Dunning, 2008).
Importance of the topic
As a radiology manager, this topic is of much important to me in the sense that it poses a lot of potentials. The technology has yielded better results in vascular medicine especially, thrombolysis. Compared to the older methods, Ultra-sound accelerated thrombolysis is quicker and does not damage the blood vessels. The previous methods, for instance, thrombolytic therapy had significant risks that cannot be ignored. Use of ultrasound energy can significantly reduce side effects of the dosages, for example, bleeding and damaging the walls of the blood vessels. Once more, the approach is a better strategy and more efficient compared to Heparin only when changing to the contrary the right ventricle dilation of victims with intermediate-risk, acute pulmonary embolism and is not associated with prolonged bleeding complexities (Vedantham, 2008).
The application of ultrasound to interrupt automatically blocking thrombi or to facilitate enzymatic thrombolysis offers a better approach for treating occlusive thrombotic disease. The success of this technology has been contributed by the availability of the devices to perform the procedure and, break the links of fibrin contained in the blood clot by the use of ultrasound and lytics. There is no longer the notion of having to wait for months for the success of the procedure. Besides, the results have improved tremendously on the patients whose the process has been carried out. According to my thinking, the use of the technology is irrefutable and can withstand the test of time. Most of the clot related illnesses, are severe, and require immediate and active interventions otherwise; the outcome can be devastating (Segal & Hofmann, 2007).
Ultra-sound accelerated thrombolysis uses both high and low frequencies ultrasound energies to increase the breakdown of the fibrin strands. In return, this facilitates the entry of thrombolytic agents to the thrombus. Consequently, the ultrasound makes the gas bubbles contained in the thrombus as transport facilitators of the activators and plasminogen to the linking bond of the fibrin. In so doing, it lowers the complication of excessive bleeding. Regarding modernity, the technology is a perfect example and most medical institutions worldwide need to embrace it. The topic is of importance to me concerning the number of people aggrieved by this kind of illnesses. In the same context, pulmonary embolism is a highly lethal condition responsible for many deaths globally. I firmly believe, ultra-sound accelerated thrombolysis can significantly reduce these deaths
Conclusion
Despite the reports on safety and efficacy by some of the studies, ultra-sound accelerated thrombolysis is the most efficient, exciting, and promising technology consisting of several advantages. It is widely used in the medical institutions (Simonian, 2009). Besides, unlike other older methods, injury of the walls of the blood vessels is unlikely to happen. The benefit of using this approach has been analyzed in the cure for symptomatic iliofemoral DVT. Ultrasound-accelerated thrombolysis provides reduced major bleeding rate compared to that of anticoagulation therapy. With the added advantage of eradicating the thrombus burden load, thereby cutting the future hazards of post-thrombotic syndrome. The ultrasound-accelerated thrombolysis has exceedingly demonstrated medical efficacy in removing the thrombotic load and restoring the flow of the blood of victims with embolic stroke (Hamilton-Craig & Dunning, 2008).
References
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