title: Recanalization of chronic coronary occlusions using a laser wire.
abstract: Between August, 1993-December, 1994, recanalization of a chronically occluded coronary artery was attempted in 412 patients, with an overall success rate of 77%. The main reason for failure was subintimal tracking of the guide wire. However, in 13 patients, advancing the guide wire was not possible either subintimally or in the former true lumen. In 8 of these 13 patients with failed conventional recanalization, a second attempt was made using a 0.018" laser wire. The suspected occlusion duration was 6 wk-6 yr, and the occlusion length 6-21 mm. Successful crossing of the occlusion was achieved in 7 of 8 patients. One patient experienced pericardial hematoma without severe clinical consequences. Adjunctive conventional laser angioplasty and/or balloon dilatation led to a residual stenosis of < 50% in 7 patients. The laser wire technique may become an important new method for recanalizing chronic total coronary occlusions in selected patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Bethanien Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sievert
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rohde
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ensslen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Merle
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Scherer
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Spies
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schulze
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Utech
mesh_terms: D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017222:Angioplasty, Balloon, Laser-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies