title: Critical limb ischemia: will atherectomy and laser-directed therapy be the answer?
abstract: The interventional treatment of peripheral atherosclerotic occlusive disease is increasingly becoming accepted as an appropriate initial form of therapy. Standard methods of treatment include balloon angioplasty and stent assisted angioplasty. Laser catheters and mechanical atherectomy catheters are newer tools, which can be utilized to assist in achieving and maintaining patency in these vessels. In this report, we review the efficacy, safety, and potential advantages of these ablative devices when used for the treatment of peripheral arterial occlusive disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA. claird@ccf.org
authors.forename: Daniel G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Clair
mesh_terms: D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D016342:Angioplasty, Laser / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005121:Extremities / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D015607:Stents