INTRAOPERATIVE CORONARY-ARTERY DILATATION WITH ANGIOSCOPIC GUIDANCE

The use of intraoperative balloon dilatation during coronary artery by pass surgery has been limited due to relatively unpredictable and pote ntially damaging results, The development of fiberoptic angioscopy per mits safe visualization of the interior of coronary arteries and may b e a valuable adjunct to intraoperative balloon dilatation. A 56-year-o ld male underwent four vessel coronary grafting with progressive intra operative balloon dilatation of a second more distal stenosis of the l eft anterior descending coronary artery, Angioscopy was used to determ ine optimal balloon sizing and allowed visualization of associated int imal changes that occurred during the procedure, resulting in a succes sful outcome for this patient.