[Effects of ultrasound energy on femoral artery occlusion. Angiographic and angioscopic results].

Ultrasonic energy has been shown to be able to disrupt atherosclerotic plaques and thrombi. The authors used an ultrasonic angioplastic technique developed by the group in 10 patients with a femoral arterial occlusion. The ultrasonic angioplasty was attempted before surgical bypass using a 130 cm long titanium guide wire with a 0.8 mm diameter and a round distal tip measuring 2 or 2.5 mm. Angiographic and angioscopic examinations were performed before and after the procedure in 9 patients. It was not possible to perform the angioplasty in 1 patient. Angioscopy showed that the proximal part of the occlusion consisted of atheromatous material in 3 cases and of thrombus in 6 cases. Angiography showed complete restoration of flow in 4 cases; distal flow was very slow in 4 cases and no distal run-off was observed in 1 case. Angioscopy showed residual stenosis at the site of entry in only 1 case. In 3 cases, the artery had no significant residual stenosis. In the other 5 patients residual stenosis was present and angioscopy showed persistence of strands of fibrin and small thrombi. These results show that ultrasonic angioplasty was capable of recanalising an occlusion in 9 out of 10 patients with partial or total disruption of thrombi. At the present stage of development of this system, balloon angioplasty would be an essential complement in most cases in order to obtain normal flow without significant residual stenosis. The manoeuverability of the guide wire and the relatively small size of the round distal tip explain why not all the thrombi could be treated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)