title: Percutaneous laser recanalisation of femoropopliteal occlusions using continuous wave Nd-YAG laser and sapphire contact probe delivery system.
abstract: A conventional continuous wave Nd-YAG medical laser system delivered by transparent sapphire tipped optical fibres was used for percutaneous recanalisation of 32 chronic femoropopliteal occlusions in 27 patients (19 men, eight women; median age 68 years, range 46-83 years). Twenty-four patients had severe intermittent claudication and three had critical ischaemia. The median occlusion length was 8 cm (range 3-35 cm) and lesions were not negotiable by guidewire. Laser energy was delivered at powers of 10-15 Watts using intermittent 1 second emissions (mean total energy 315 Joules, range 30-1015]). The sapphire tips used were 1.8 to 3.0 mm diameter. After laser recanalisation adjunctive balloon dilatation was necessary to widen the resulting lumen. All patients received anti-platelet therapy. Initial clinical success was achieved in 22 limbs (69%) with symptomatic relief and increase in mean (+/- S.D.) ankle-brachial pressure ratio from 0.52 (+/- 0.25) to 0.80 (+/- 0.21) [Mann-Whitney U, p < 0.001]. Recanalisation was unsuccessful in all calcified lesions (four cases). There was a high incidence of vessel perforation (28%) and wall dissection (25%). Emergency surgery was not required after failed procedures. The median follow-up was 12 months (range 6-20 months). By 6 months, 15 of 22 successfully recanalised lesions (68%) had reoccluded. The cumulative primary patency at 1 year was only 12%. These disappointing results do not support routine use of this system. Clearly, modifications of the laser/delivery system or the technique, or both, are required. The aim should be to achieve sole laser recanalisation without concomitant balloon dilatation.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ashley
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Gehani
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Kester
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Rees
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017222:Angioplasty, Balloon, Laser-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome