THE VIABILITY OF ENDOVASCULAR LASER INTERVENTION FOR PERIPHERAL ARTERIAL DISEASES

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Background: The minimally invasive endovascular management of various peripheral arterial diseases has attracted attention worldwide. Based on the results studies, we examined the use of the argon laser in endovascular intervention for peripheral arterial diseases.
Materials and Methods: We first performed some preliminary animal experiments applying the argon laser endovascularly both with the bare fiber and with a laser-heated tip with a range of parameters. Based on the results of these studies the optimum parameters were set at 6 W output power with a 3 sec exposure for the laser fiber, and for the heated tip angioplasty approach, a tip temperature of 200°C with a 5 sec exposure. Using these parameters we have treated a total of 115 patients, 113 with intermittent claudication and 2 with crural ulcers.
Results: Endovascular argon laser intervention using our elicited parameters was clinically and successfully performed for all patients in the study population, with clear improvement in their clinical symptoms. The follow-up period has ranged from 6.5 to 10 years, (average 8.3 years), with no signs of recurrence. No adverse side effects have been reported.
Conclusions: Our results have clearly demonstrated that endovascular laser intervention with an argon laser was a useful method for a variety of peripheral arterial diseases, with excellent results seen in an average 8.3-year follow-up. Endovascular laser intervention can therefore be recommended for those patients with peripheral arterial diseases.