Evaluation of distal anastomotic intimal hyperplasia: an experimental comparison by arteriography, duplex sonography, angioscopy, and intravascular ultrasound.

Routine follow-up investigation methods after peripheral arterial bypass surgery, such as arteriography and colour duplex sonography, do not always allow correct analysis of moderate alterations in the vessel wall, e.g. initial stages of distal anastomotic intimal hyperplasia (DAIH). The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of angioscopy and intravascular ultrasound compared to the named routine methods regarding detection of early DAIH. Eight months after bilateral femoropopliteal bypass surgery with venous grafts in 18 sheep, we investigated the distal anastomotic sites using the named methods. The findings were then correlated to histologic specimens. Intravascular ultrasound presented the highest sensitivity followed by angioscopy, with results markedly different from the findings arrived at by conventional methods.