title: Laser angioplasty with a contact probe for the treatment of peripheral vascular disease.
abstract: Percutaneous transluminal laser angioplasty was carried out for the dilatation of 30 completely occluded peripheral arterial segments and three subtotal stenoses. A neodymium-YAG laser and an optical fibre delivery system with a sapphire tip were used. All three arterial stenoses and 26 of the 30 occluded arterial segments were successfully dilated. In 20 patients additional dilatation was carried out with a balloon catheter. Laser angioplasty failed to recanalise four occlusions, and vessel leakage without clinical consequences occurred in one patient. Reocclusion occurred within 48 h in two patients and after five months in one patient during a follow up period of at least six months. It is concluded that percutaneous transluminal laser angioplasty using direct contact with a sapphire tip is highly effective (89% success rate) in reopening peripheral vascular occlusions. The procedure is safe, and reocclusion of vessels is rare during the six month follow up period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Karl Franzens University School of Medicine, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pilger
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lammer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kleinert
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ascher
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bertuch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged