Excimer laser angioplasty in coronary artery disease.
The results of coronary excimer laser angioplasty were evaluated in 70 patients. Forty-five patients had laser angioplasty of coronary stenoses. Twenty-five patients in a total of 35 attempts had wire-guided laser recanalization of chronic coronary occlusions, resulting in a success rate of 71%. Immediate results in both groups demonstrated the efficacy of this technique without serious side-effects. Stenoses were reduced from 90 +/- 5% to 48 +/- 18% diameter reduction (mean +/- standard deviation) by excimer laser angioplasty. Residual stenosis in recanalized vessels after laser angioplasty was 52 +/- 19%. In slightly more than half of the patients with a residual stenosis greater than 50% after excimer laser angioplasty, subsequent balloon angioplasty was performed for further stenosis reduction. While satisfactory immediate results were achieved by excimer laser angioplasty intermediate follow-up revealed a restenosis rate in the same range as with balloon angioplasty.
Werner
G
G
Department of Cardiology, University of Göttingen, Germany.
Buchwald
A
A
Unterberg
C
C
Voth
E
E
Kreuzer
H
H
Wiegand
V
V
D000368:Aged; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D016342:Angioplasty, Laser / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged