[Acute results of ablation of coronary in-stent restenoses with eccentric excimer laser catheters].
Laser catheters which run eccentrically on a guide wire were developed for maximization of luminal gain by excimer laser angioplasty (ELCA). We investigated the safety and efficacy of ELCA with these new catheters plus PTCA in patients with restenoses or occlusions in coronary stents. ELCA was performed in 57 patients (60 +/- 9 years) with stenoses in 75 stents (35 AVE Micro stents, 26 Palmaz-Schatz stents, 7 NIR stents, 7 other stents). In 44 patients eccentric 1.7 mm catheters and in 13 patients 2.0 mm catheters were used. The success of the intervention was analyzed by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in a subgroup of 7 patients treated with five 1.7 mm and two 2.0 mm catheters. The laser catheters could be advanced through the in-stent restenoses in 56 patients. A passage inhibition occurred in one patient with an inadequately expanded stent < 2.0 mm in diameter. ELCA reduced the diameter stenoses from 77 +/- 10% before intervention to 44 +/- 8% after treatment with the 1.7 mm catheter (n = 43) or to 34 +/- 9% after passages with the 2.0 mm catheter (P < 0.001). PTCA further reduced the diameter stenosis to 11 +/- 12% (P < 0.001). The IVUS analysis revealed a smooth ablation profile in all patients. In 4 patients creatine kinase elevations > or = 2 times normal value occurred. There was no evidence of a Q-wave infarction. No dissections were observed within the stents. Outside of the stents there were dissections in 5 vessels, which required the implantation of additional stents.


CONCLUSIONS
ELCA with eccentric laser catheters for treatment of in-stent restenosis is safe and effective. The incidence of complications is acceptable.
Köster
R
R
Universitäts-Krankenhaus Eppendorf Medizinische Klinik, Abteilung Kardiologie, Hamburg.
Hamm
C W
CW
Terres
W
W
Koschyk
D H
DH
Reimers
J
J
Kähler
J
J
Meinertz
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017222:Angioplasty, Balloon, Laser-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome