Neointimal hyperplasia following argon ion laser carotid endarterectomy: with and without endothelial cell seeding.
OBJECTIVE
This study compares the development of neointimal hyperplasia following conventional and argon ion laser carotid endarterectomy and assesses the potential advantage of endothelial cell seeding.


METHODS
Eight dogs underwent conventional endarterectomy in one carotid artery and an argon ion laser endarterectomy in the other. After 42 days, these arteries were harvested and the intimal thickness were compared. Six additional dogs underwent bilateral argon ion laser carotid endarterectomy with endothelial cell seeding on the one side only. These arteries were harvested after 65 days and their mean intimal thickness were compared.


RESULTS
At 42 days, the mean intimal thickness in the conventional endarterectomy group was 0.070 +/- 0.007 mm; in the argon ion laser endarterectomy group it was 0.058 +/- 0.001 mm (P = 0.76, NS). At 65 days, the mean intimal thickness in the group without endothelial cell seeding was 0.125 +/- 0.003 mm vs. 0.061 +/- 0.001 mm on the seeded side (P = 0.043).


CONCLUSIONS
Argon ion laser carotid endarterectomy results in no more neointimal hyperplasia than conventional endarterectomy. The neointimal hyperplasia is reduced by endothelial cell seeding.
Wilcox
M G
MG
Department of Surgery, Indiana University Medical Center, Indianapolis 46202, USA.
Sawchuk
A P
AP
D000818:Animals; D001128:Argon; D004285:Dogs; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid / Q000379:methods*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular; D006965:Hyperplasia; D007477:Ions; D053685:Laser Therapy; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology*
D007477:Ions; D001128:Argon