Abstract
Fundamental researches, clinical results and future of laser angioplasty in the treatment of arteriosclerotic obstructive disease of the lower extremity.
The fundamental researches on the effects of laser to the atheromatous and stenotic lesions of the arteries, and clinical results of laser angioplasty were reviewed.
Stent therapy for arterial occlusive diseases is being more used recently. In this era of stenting, the values of laser angioplasty were analyzed, using our own researches and clinical cases. Smooth healing of treated artery with laser and the importance of combined therapy with thrombolysis and aspiration in the treatment of arterial occlusive diseases was emphasized.
Very recently good results of laser angioplasty or laser-assisted atherectomy were reported from the surgical stand point of view, especially in the application of excimer laser to treat patients with critical limb ischemia and to save amputation of the limb. Another good results of creating a larger lumen in the obstructed femoral artery with the improved combination set of an excimer laser catheter and a sheath(Bias sheath) , which was reported in 2007, was introduced.
The future of laser angioplasty depends on the future researches, developments and improvements of equipments, since the stent therapy is recently more used and the indication of laser angioplasty is seemingly limited.
