title: Laser angioplasty in coronary artery disease.
abstract: At the present time all laser coronary angioplasty systems in use are investigational devices awaiting FDA approval. Preliminary results in human trials of several coronary laser angioplasty systems have been reported and appear encouraging. The technological achievement of delivering laser energy to the coronary circulation and opening occluded arteries has been accomplished. The much more difficult question of determining which patients, if any, should be offered this very expensive technology remains to be answered.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, Ochsner Medical Institutions, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Ramee
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Collins
mesh_terms: D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000601:surgery*; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends