Abstract

Excimer laser endarterectomy (ExLE) was compared with conventional surgical endarterectomy (SE), about early response in atherosclerotic rabbit aortas and about late healing response in normal canine arteries.
In the first experiment, surfaces following ExLE were rougher than those after SE, but ExLE end points, without any intimal flaps, were smoother than those of SE exhibiting rough transitions and intimal flaps. And then thrombus formation in the ExLE was less than in the SE.
In the second experiment endotherial cells appeared at 3 weeks and completely covered surfaces at 3 months in the both techniques. But some of arterial walls following ExLE showed aneurysmal changes at 3 months.
In conclusion, it was demonstrated that ExLE exhibited no intimal flaps at the end points, lower thrombogenicity than SE, and favorable healing response. And so it is expected that ExLE will find a place in the future treatment of coronary artery disease.