Open AccessPeripheral percutaneous transluminal laser angioplasty in humans: In vitro investigations and clinical results with a novel laser catheter system
Author(s) -
Neubaur T.,
Klepzig M.,
Heintzen M. P.,
Richter E. I.,
Zeitler E.,
Strauer B. E.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
clinical cardiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.263
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1932-8737
pISSN - 0160-9289
DOI - 10.1002/clc.4960120606
Subject(s) - medicine , percutaneous , catheter , peripheral , laser , angioplasty , surgery , radiology , cardiology , optics , physics
Percutaneous transluminal laser angioplasty has become an accepted method of treatment of peripheral arterial occlusive disease. To minimize the risk of arterial wall perforation during laser angioplasty, a novel laser catheter system was developed. in 113 obliterated postmortem human arteries the perforation rate was 0.9%. The mean degree of stenosis was reduced from 89±9% before, to 53±11% after laser irradiation. Clinical Nd:YAG laser angioplasty was performed in 19 patients suffering from peripheral arterial occlusive disease. The Fontaine stage improved in 16 patients; in no case did it deteriorate. The mean degree of stenosis was reduced by laser angioplasty from 91±12% to 31±19%. A further reduction down to 13±18% was achieved by subsequent percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty. The systolic Doppler ankle‐arm pressure gradient was improved from 0.58±0.26 to 0.89±0.25. in 7 patients microembolisms were detectable on the final angiogram. There was no acute reocclusion and no perforation. Within a follow‐up period of 12 months, four restenoses were diagnosed by digital subtraction angiography. On average, the Doppler index was 0.75±0.32.