title: Arterial revascularization by laser angioplasty: first Italian experiences.
abstract: Eighty-seven laser angioplasty procedures were performed on 85 patients (73 men and 12 women). In the first phase (54 patients) a broad selection process included long occlusions (23.9 cm avg) and vessels with heavy calcification; in the second phase (31 patients) the authors treated vessels with shorter occlusions (10 cm avg) and less calcific. The primary success rate, based on number of procedures (73.5% overall) was 69% in the first phase but reached 81.3% in the second phase. There were 14 perforations (16%), 8 dissections (9.4%), and 4 peripheral emboli (4.7%). Six-month follow-up shows that the Winsor index maintained its initial improvement in 76.5% of all patients, or 62% in just the long occlusions. These data and a review of the cases suggest that no more of 10-20% of patients with claudication in lower extremities can be treated by laser angioplasty; the authors consider ideal candidates those patients who noncalcific lesions in the common iliac or superficial femoral arteries at the III medium level with obstructions shorter than 8 cm and good runoff.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Surgical Pathology, University of Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perbellini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Taddei
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barbieri
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arosio
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pancera
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bau
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mansueto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lino
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ghini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scuro
mesh_terms: D016342:Angioplasty, Laser / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000601:surgery*; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000209:etiology