Recanalization of obstructed arteries with a flexible, rotating tip catheter.

A flexible, rotating tip catheter (Kensey catheter) was used to recanalize 24 segments of diseased superficial femoral arteries (from cadavers) that were sewn as xenografts into the femoral, carotid, or aorticorenal arteries of 14 dogs. One perforation occurred; there were emboli in some brains and kidneys, the consequences of which remain unknown. No signs of gross neurologic deficits or limb ischemia were seen at 0-11 days.