A CASE OF BALLOON ANGIOPLASTY FOR THE STENOSIS OCCURRED AFTER FEMOROPOLITEAL BYPASS OPERATION

We experienced a rare case of arterial stenosis caused by bulldog forceps used in femoropopliteal bypass operahon. A 70-year-old female visited our department complaining of pain in the right lower extremity. Various examinations indicated that she was suffered from complete obstruction of the superficial femoral artery due to arteriosclerosis obliterans. Femoropopliteal bypass operation was performed. Postoperative roentgenography revealed a stenosis at a place beneath the graft anastomosis, namely, at a place where bulldog forceps appeard to be applied. Basic endoscopical findings also supported the stenosis caused by hemostat. She was treated with angioplasty by inserting a balloon through the resected artificial vessel, and her postoperative course was uneventful. Even a hemostat should be used with careful attention. Furthermore, intra-anginal endoscopy through the artificial vessel and balloon angioplasty are possible applicable diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to stenosis at the anastomosis.