Australia & New Zealand Society of Vascular Surgeons

Recanalisation of chronic arterial and venous occlusions remains difficult. While occluding chromic thrombus can be easily removed by a variety of methods including surgical thrombectomy or endarterectomy, most interventional radiology procedures require dissection with a wire guide either in the lumen or intentionally in the subintimal plane. For the past 12 months we have been evaluating an ultrasonic device (Omnisonics Resolution 360) which breaks down the occlusive material even including calcified plaque to allow easy passage of angioplasty devices. In over 25 cases we have had encouraging results with the use of the device and adjunctive angioplasty. In one patient only the device was used to remove obstruction caused by a heavily calcified eccentric plaque. The device is unique in that it consists of a flexible ultra small calibre wire with ultrasonic energy delivered along a 20cm length rather than at single or multiple PE crystal sites.