Angioscopic Observation of an Endoluminal Stent Graft: CT Imaging versus Angioscopic Imaging

Abstract

We could observe the endoluminal stent graft (SG) following thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR) by a coronary artery angioscope and establish intravascular visualization of SG. The patient was a 70-year-old woman with the distal aortic arch aneurysm and the descending aortic aneurysm, and debranching TEVAR were performed. After 12 months follow up, urgent hospitalization was required for chest pain, and cardiac catheter examination with a coronary artery angioscope was performed. The endoluminal SG was observed. The observation in angioscope which is a video image is better than CT that is a still image, and observation in blood vessel or SG is possible. It may be possible to observe the endoluminal SG, allowing potential investigation of an endoleak, or the covering status of the SG with the native aortic vessel wall, or the state of intimal membrane formation in the endoluminal graft.