New treatment in Malaysia for atherosclerosis uses sonic waves

Dr Amin (second from right) holding up the IVL equipment, with the team of cardiologists, nurses and one technician who helped with the procedure. — IJN

A procedure known as intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) was successfully performed for the first time in Malaysia at the National Heart Institute (better known by its Bahasa Malaysia acronym IJN) on Feb 22 (2021).

Approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), this method uses sonic waves to treat heart patients suffering from severe atherosclerosis.