Background: Reports of endoscopic visualization of the vascular lumen date back to the 1970s. While angioscopy is already used as a routine
intraoperative technique in a variety of therapeutic procedures, there are only few reports on the use of percutaneous angioscopy
in the course of radiologic interventions.
Methods: Fifty two angioscopies before and after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) were performed in 30 patients. A 1.4
mm angioscope was used together with a roller-pump (n=42) or a pressure infusion set (n=10) for fluid irrigation.
Results: Angiographically, 24 stenoses and 6 occlusions of the superficial femoral artery (SFA) were diagnosed. Angioscopically, circular
stenoses were visualized in 14 patients, eccentric stenoses in 7 patients. 6 angiographically diagnosed occlusions were identified
angioscopically as high-grade stenoses in 3 cases and fresh thromboses in the remaining 3 patients. In 5 patients (17%) the
therapeutic management was modified as a result of the angioscopic findings. After PTA angioscopy showed partly dissected
plaques and freely floating intimal flaps which were not visualized angiographically.
Conclusions: Thus a direct angioscopic view made a more accurate diagnosis possible. Consequently angioscopy may aid in the selection
of the appropriate interventional modality and it may serve as an immediate quality control after PTA.
Grundlagen: Erste Berichte über die endoskopische Darstellung des Gefäßlumens existieren seit den 70iger Jahren. Während die intraoperative
Anwendung der Angioskopie bereits Routinemethode bei einer Vielzahl von Indikationen ist, gibt es bisher nur wenige Berichte
über den Einsatz der perkutanen Angioskopie im Rahmen radiologischer Interventionen.
Methodik: Bei 30 Patienten wurden 52 angioskopische Untersuchungen vor und nach PTA durchgeführt.
Key-words Angioscopy - angiography - percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA)
Schlüsselwörter Angioskopie - Angiographie - perkutane transluminale Angioplastie (PTA)