title: Laser ablation and the need for intra-arterial imaging.
abstract: In 48 patients with severe claudication due to a total obstruction of the femoropopliteal artery, percutaneous recanalization was attempted with a 2.2 mm diameter rounded sapphire contact probe in conjunction with a continuous wave Nd:YAG laser. In eight patients the contact probe laser catheter took a subintimal course that could not be redressed. Laser recanalization needs high-resolution diagnostic information on the complex anatomy of the obstruction. Intra-arterial ultrasound imaging may provide the necessary information to evaluate, monitor or guide novel angioplasty techniques. The design of an ultrasound catheter which combines high-resolution diagnostic imaging with steerability, flexibility and controlled ablation is now the major engineering challenge in interventional cardiology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Heart-Lung Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Borst
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rienks
authors.forename: W P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Mali
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: van Erven
mesh_terms: D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D007511:Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000601:surgery; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000295:instrumentation*