1991 Volume 20 Issue 9 Pages 1476-1482
Laser thermal angioplasty with a metal hot tip probe was performed on 34 cases of arteriosclerosis obliterans of the lower limbs, instead of conventional balloon angioplasty. Initial angiographic and clinical success was achieved in 48 of 53 (90.5%) arterial lesions. The initial success rates were 91.6%, 87.8% and 100% for lesions of the iliac, femoral and popliteal arteries respectively. The initial success rate was 66.6% in occlusive lesions, and was 100% in stenotic lesions. Five of seven (71.4%) occlusions less than 10cm length, and five of eight (62.5%) occlusions longer than 10cm were successfuly treated. Higher laser energy was necessary for ablation in occlusive lesions than in stenotic lesions. The ankle pressure index improved postoperatively in both occlusive and stenotic lesions. Satisfactory long term patency was achieved in 27 of 35 successfully treated lesions (77.1%). These results suggest that laser thermal angioplasty is effective for the treatment of arteriosclerotic disease in the lower limbs.
