[Intravascular ultrasonic diagnosis. In vivo findings before and after angioplasty in peripheral arterial occlusive disease].

In 15 patients (13 men, two women, mean age 63 [47-75] years) with peripheral arterial occlusive disease in stages IIB-IV (Fontaine) intravascular ultrasound findings were compared with the angiographic results before and after treatment. In 12 patients stenosis (n = 10) or occlusion (n = 2) of the iliac artery (n = 2) or the superficial femoral artery (n = 10) were treated by conventional balloon angioplasty; in three patients with occlusion of the superficial femoral artery excimer laser angioplasty was performed. There was good correlation between measurements of vessel diameter by the two techniques (r = 0.93, P less than 0.001). Ultrasound scanning provided additional informations regarding the thickness of the plaque, the density or firmness of the stenosis and the degree of calcification. The therapeutic outcome was quantified by measuring the gain in lumen diameter. The authors also assessed the morphological changes following angioplasty in the vicinity of the obstructing plaque. In the light of the ultrasound findings it was considered necessary to undertake further dilatation in four out of the 12 patients treated by balloon dilatation. The results indicate that intravascular ultrasound imaging is a valuable complement to angiography for monitoring of therapeutic results after vascular interventions.