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Laser angioplasty of peripheral arteries: An epilogue?

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Abstract

This review gives a short overview of the results of 15 years of experimental and clinical work on laser angioplasty. Experimentally, photothermal and photomechanical ablation of plaque could be demonstrated. However, laser angioplasty did not cause reduction of platelet adhesion and intimai hyperplasia. Clinically, the technique of laser angioplasty was continuously improved until the initial recanalization rates and longterm patency rates in femoropopliteal artery occlusions were the same as the success rates of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). This was proven by various randomized studies. Currently, laser angioplasty cannot be proposed as a routine procedure because it is an expensive technology. However, laser recanalization and debulking of total occlusions should be further developed, especially in combination with endoluminal graft placement.

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  1. Department of Angiography and Interventional Radiology, University Vienna, Waehringer Gürtel 18– 20, A-1090, Vienna, Austria

    Johannes Lammer

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Lammer, J. Laser angioplasty of peripheral arteries: An epilogue?. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 18, 1–8 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02807347

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