Pulsed excimer laser versus continuous-wave Nd:YAG laser versus conventional angioplasty of peripheral arterial occlusions: prospective, controlled, randomised trial.
Early clinical studies of coronary and peripheral laser angioplasty showed that arterial occlusions could be recanalised by continuous-wave lasers delivered with contact probes and by pulsed lasers applied with multifibre catheters. However, whether laser-assisted angioplasty improves success rates in reopening occlusions and in long-term patency rates is unclear. We have compared the primary recanalisation and long-term patency rates after laser-assisted and conventional percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of femoropopliteal artery occlusions in 116 consecutive symptomatic patients (excimer laser 37, Nd:YAG laser 40, PTA 39). Primary recanalisation was achieved in 81 patients (70%). The primary recanalisation rate achieved with the excimer laser was significantly lower than that with the Nd:YAG laser (49% vs 78%, p < 0.01) or with PTA (82%, p < 0.003). The overall angiographic recanalisation rate (primary and secondary recanalisation) after laser and PTA was 89%. After 3 months, clinical improvement was recorded in 76% of patients. Clinical long-term results were available in 94 (91%), and angiographic long-term results in 77 (75%), of 103 successfully recanalised patients. Life-table analysis of the long-term results revealed no significant difference of the restenosis rate between the three treatment groups. The 12-month patency rate was 60% as assessed clinically and 39% as judged by angiography. Primary and secondary recanalisation rates and long-term patency rates were significantly correlated with length of the occlusion. Our results suggest that PTA of femoropopliteal artery occlusions is only indicated if the occlusion is short (< 8 cm) and that laser-assisted angioplasty should only be used after failure of conventional PTA.
Lammer
J
J
Department of Radiology, Karl-Franzens University of Graz, Austria.
Pilger
E
E
Decrinis
M
M
Quehenberger
F
F
Klein
G E
GE
Stark
G
G
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017130:Angioplasty; D016342:Angioplasty, Laser / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D015993:Life Tables; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009354:Neodymium; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014654:Vascular Patency; D014978:Xenon
D009354:Neodymium; D014978:Xenon