Femoropopliteal Laser Angioplasty: Initial Clinical Results with Large Probes as "Sole Therapy"

Abstract

Laser-assisted balloon angioplasty has been shown to be effective in the treatment of superficial femoral artery (SFA) occlusive disease. In order to avoid the inherent trauma of balloon angioplasty, 30 patients underwent laser angioplasty of the SFA as "sole therapy." Laser angioplasty was performed using a laser coupled to a 600 micron fiber and a 3.5 mm probe (22-28 watts). Fourteen patients had laser angioplasty for claudication and 16 for limb salvage. The initial success rate was 83% (25/30) (lesion length 2-14 cm). In follow-up extending to nine months, 84% (21/25) of laser angioplastied SFAs have remained patent. By avoiding the disruptive effect on the arterial wall architecture caused by balloon angioplasty, while at the same time ablating and vaporizing more atheromatous material with larger laser probes, the long-term patency rates of laser angioplasty as sole therapy may prove to be superior to those of laser- assisted balloon angioplasty.