Clinical experience of percutaneous coronary angioscopy in cases with coronary artery disease.
Direct visualization of the coronary arteries was performed by using a new ultrathin angioscopic catheter system in experimental animals and 4 patients with coronary artery disease during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). In this catheter system, inspection of the coronary arteries was achieved during washout of blood by bolus infusion of 8-10 ml of saline into the coronary artery through the guide catheter. In the preliminary experience with this coronary angioscopic system, there were some limitations. In 2 patients, removal of coronary blood by manual injection of saline was not adequate, and diagnostic TV images could not be obtained. In 2 patients with tortuous coronary arteries, the catheter could not pass to the atheromatous plaques owing to lack of flexibility of the fiberoptic catheter. Furthermore, angina pectoris occurred in 2 patients during angioscopy, owing probably to interference with coronary blood flow by the guide catheter and/or fiberoptic catheter itself. For future clinical application of coronary angioscopy, further improvements in the instrument are necessary.
Konishi
T
T
First Department of Internal Medicine, Mie University School of Medicine, Japan.
Inden
M
M
Nakano
T
T
D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D000818:Animals; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D019723:Endoscopes; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care