Angioscopy as an adjunct to arterial reconstructive surgery: a preliminary report

To date our use of angioscopy as an adjunct to in situ vein grafting, arterial embolectomy, femoropopliteal bypass surgery, and laser recanalization has been studied in 11 patients. Three angioscopes have been used: a 1.7 mm optiscope, a 2.8 mm laser optiscope, and a 3.2 mm bronchoscope. Scopes were introduced through an arteriotomy and a clear field maintained by continuous saline infusion. Twenty-four angioscopic evaluations were performed in the 14 patients studied. Adequate visualization was achieved with all three scopes. Angioscopy showed total atherosclerotic occlusion of six superficial femoral and popliteal arteries, intimal flaps in two arteries, thrombus in two arteries and one graft, adequate valvulotomy in three saphenous veins used for in situ bypass grafting, and removal of thrombus after embolectomy in one artery. With the 2.8 mm laser optiscope, the optical fiber used for laser recanalization could be positioned at the site of arterial occlusion before lasing and recanalization were done under direct vision. The 1.7 mm scope could be passed through the recanalized artery to inspect the channel and confirm communication with the artery distal to the occlusion. Thus, angioscopy appears to be potentially useful as a diagnostic device in arterial occlusive disease and as an adjunct in in situ saphenous vein grafting or laser recanalization of occluded arterial segments.