[Percutaneous sonographic angioplasty. Initial experimental results].

Aim of the present study was to examine in vitro the effects of a new ultrasound catheter system on atherosclerotic and normal vessels before employing the system in humans. 141 attempts were made on 32 vascular preparations obtained at autopsy. The vessels were opened longitudinally within 24 hours of death, dilated with gelatine and were then "treated" in a waterbath using varying degrees of pressure, angle of incidence, sound intensity and duration of sound. Macroscopic and histological examinations of the preparation showed no morphological change in normal vessels except evidence of pressure by the catheter. In particular, there were no perforations of the vessel wall. In atherosclerotic segments there was significant reduction in the size of plaques following treatment.