Fiberoptic angioscopy of cardiac chambers, valves, and great vessels using a guiding balloon catheter in dogs.

The applicability of fiberoptic angioscopy with a guiding balloon catheter to observe the cardiac chambers, valves and the great vessels was examined in anesthetized dogs. A No. 11 French guiding balloon catheter (balloon diameter 50 French) was introduced through either the right jugular vein or the right femoral vein into the right heart, and then a fiberscope (4.3 French in diameter) was introduced through the catheter into the right heart in 10 dogs. The balloon was inflated with air and gently pushed against the luminal surface, warm saline was infused through the catheter to displace the blood, and the luminal surfaces were photographed on 16 mm color cinefilms. Pulmonary angioscopy was also performed in these dogs. Similarly, the guiding catheter and fiberscope were introduced through the right common carotid artery into the left ventricle for observation of the luminal changes in the other 10 dogs. The luminal surfaces of the superior vena cava, right atrium, right ventricle, and pulmonary artery could be observed in all dogs. The trabeculae of the left ventricle, contracting and relaxing synchronously with the cardiac beat, could also be observed in all dogs. However, observations of the tricuspid valve, aortic valve, papillary muscle, and chordae were successful in only some dogs. Postmortem examinations revealed no obvious endocardial or intimal damage. The results indicate the applicability and safety of angioscopy guided by a balloon catheter for observations of the luminal changes in the cardiac chambers and great vessels.