title: Percutaneous excimer-laser and excimer-laser-assisted angioplasty of the lower extremities: results of initial clinical trial.
abstract: Percutaneous peripheral excimer-laser angioplasty at 308 nm was used for treatment of 30 patients with peripheral vascular disease. Twenty-eight patients underwent laser-assisted balloon angioplasty, and two patients underwent laser angioplasty alone. Acute angiographic and clinical success was achieved in 24 of 31 (77%) femoropopliteal stenoses and occlusions. Seven of nine (78%) stenoses, six of seven (86%) short (0-5 cm) occlusions, seven of eight (88%) medium-length (6-10 cm) occlusions, three of four (75%) long (11-15 cm) occlusions, and one of three (33%) extreme (greater than 15 cm) occlusions were successfully treated. Inability to treat total occlusions was in each case related to a failure to maintain coaxial position and subintimal passage of the fiber. These cases demonstrate the feasibility of safely performing percutaneous peripheral excimer-laser or excimer-laser-assisted angioplasty. The overall frequency of restenosis after a mean follow-up period of 9.1 months was 29%. The data suggest that these procedures may be useful for the treatment of peripheral vascular disease in selected patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Litvack
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Grundfest
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Adler
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Hickey
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Segalowitz
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Hestrin
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Mohr
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Goldenberg
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Laudenslager
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Forrester
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000792:Angiography; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence