Abstract
In patients with arterial occlusion or stenosis of the lower extremity due to arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO), vascular lumen was angioscopically observed immediately after transluminal balloon angioplasty (TBA). Five major findings were observed and classified: (1) abrasion of the intima, (2) irregularity of the lumen due to poor expansion, (3) laceration of the wall, (4) mural thrombus, and (5) intraluminally protruding calcification. The degree of each finding was scored with a 3-grade scale (0, 1, or 2). In analysis of the relationship between angioscopic scoring and long-term vascular patency, when initial scores were high, decreased patency was seen in the early (within six months) and late (after six months) (p<0.05) postoperative periods (p<0.01). In patients in whom total scores were over 5, the vascular patency rate was markedly low (11 % and 0% in the early and late postoperative periods, respectively) (ρ<0.01). These results indicate the usefulness of angioscopic observation of the vascular lumen immediately after TBA in predicting postoperative patency.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.