title: Intraoperative use of dual fiberoptic catheter for simultaneous in vivo visualization and laser vaporization of peripheral atherosclerotic obstructive disease.
abstract: Since laser energy has been shown to produce controlled thermal injury to atherosclerotic plaques from postmortem human hearts, a 3-mm diameter fiberoptic catheter was devised and tested for use in peripheral vessels. The catheter has channels for viewing, laser delivery, and suction/flushing. In five femoral or carotid arteries from three dogs implanted with near-total human atherosclerotic obstructions, the fiberoptic catheter was capable of viewing and targeting the atherosclerotic plaque for laser irradiation. The plaque was vaporized using 5 watts with time exposures lasting from 2 to 5 sec from an argon-ion laser. In three other animals each implanted with a 3- to 4-cm long segment of human cadaver atherosclerotic vessel, the fiberoptic catheter clearly visualized the internal diseased vascular wall. Thus, this investigation provides the initial demonstration and practicality of applying a flexible dual fiberoptic catheter for simultaneous in vivo visualization and laser vaporization of peripheral atherosclerotic disease.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000601:surgery*; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004285:Dogs; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000295:instrumentation; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D053685:Laser Therapy