Six-month follow-up after thermal balloon angioplasty in canine iliac arteries.

We performed thermal balloon angioplasty in 10 iliac arteries in 5 mongrel dogs. By perfusing a modified angioplasty balloon with hot (100 degrees C) saline, a mean balloon temperature of 84 degrees C was obtained. Angiographic and histologic follow-up at 6 months revealed no thrombosis or aneurysm formation but it did reveal fibrotic transformation of the media. Initial overdilatation was maintained in 9 of 10 arteries. We conclude that medial sclerosis induced by thermal balloon angioplasty does not result in aneurysm or thrombosis in dogs.