title: Tissue ablation and gas formation of two excimer laser systems: an in vitro evaluation on porcine aorta.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The relationship between tissue ablation volume and the formation of insoluble gas of the currently available excimer laser systems is unknown. This aspect was evaluated in two excimer laser systems.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured tissue ablation volume and gas production of two excimer laser systems (308 nm) on porcine aortic tissue immersed in saline (the CVX-300 using 1.4 and 1.7 mm laser catheters and the Dymer 200 + using 1.3, 1.3z and 1.6 mm laser catheters).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tissue ablation volume and gas production increased proportionally with the applied energy fluence, ranging from 30-60 mJ/mm2. The gas production per unit of ablated tissue volume of the 1.4 mm laser catheter was significantly higher than the 1.3 mm laser catheter (mean difference +117%, 95% CI from +64% till +188%, P<0.001). The gas production of the 1.7 mm laser catheter was higher than the 1.6 mm laser catheter (mean difference +70%, 95% CI from +28% till +126%, P<0.001). The 1.3z mm laser catheter demonstrated more gas production than the 1.3 mm laser catheter (mean difference +123%, 95% CI from +68% till +196%, P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of our study indicate that excimer laser with the use of the CVX-300 laser system results in significantly higher gas production than the Dymer 200+ laser system, which can be markedly reduced by lowering the applied energy fluence. The 1.3z laser catheter constitutes an exception, showing similar characteristics as the CVX-300 laser catheters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Academic Medical Center, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Y E
authors.initials: YE
authors.lastname: Appelman
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Piek
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Verhoofstad
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Gijsbers
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Van Gemert
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005740:Gases; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D053685:Laser Therapy; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D005740:Gases