Contact laser thermal angioplasty with metal hot tip by argon laser (Trimedyne Inc. USA) was performed on 28 vessels of 24 patients from arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO).
The initial success rate of the laser angioplasty was 85.7%. Clinical success was defined as an improvement in symptoms and increase in the ankle pressure index in all of these patients.
There was no perforation of arterial wall caused by laser thermal ablation with a metal hot tip heated by repeat pulses under a power condition of 10 watts of argon laser energy for 5 seconds.
And in 20 vessels for one year follow-up period of successful 24 vessels, one year patency rate was 85%. No significant complications were observed during laser angioplasty without local dissection of the arterial wall after balloon dilatation.
