title: Recanalization of chronic coronary artery occlusions using laser followed by balloon angioplasty.
abstract: Excimer laser angioplasty with adjunctive percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty of chronic coronary artery occlusions was performed using the Litvack 1.3 Z laser catheter in 80 patients in whom the occlusion could be passed by a guidewire; success rate was 89%. Angiographic follow-up revealed a restenosis rate of 33% and a reocclusion rate of 20%, and clinical follow-up showed a significant symptomatic improvement. It is concluded that laser angioplasty is a promising method for the treatment of chronic coronary artery occlusions.
authors.affiliation: Center for Cardiology Othmarschen, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schofer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kresser
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rau
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Kunze
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Kühn
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Mathey
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D017222:Angioplasty, Balloon, Laser-Assisted; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence