title: Laser-assisted balloon angioplasty: initial 18 months' experience.
abstract: The authors describe their initial 18-month experience with laser-assisted balloon angioplasty (LABA) of femoral arteries in 44 patients. Primary patency was achieved in 28 patients, but within 30 days the artery became occluded in 9 of them. Perforation occurred much more frequently early in the study. Complications associated with antegrade femoral artery puncture have led to more liberal use of LABA through an operative approach in the femoral artery. Attention to technical detail is critical. When LABA fails it does not appear to worsen the patient's condition clinically or radiologically. Endovascular procedures are undergoing continued, rapid change, so ongoing development and assessment of results are necessary for those who perform LABA.
authors: Department of Surgery, University Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver.
authors: D L
authors: DL
authors: Doyle
authors: P D
authors: PD
authors: Fry
mesh_terms: D000792:Angiography; D016342:Angioplasty, Laser / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D000842:Ankle / Q000502:physiology; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011674:Pulse; D012008:Recurrence; D014654:Vascular Patency