Laser Angioplasty for Arteriosclerosis Obliterans

Abstract

We carried out Laser angioplasty by the metal hot tip contact method with either the Argon laser or Nd-YAG laser and by the pulse laser direct beaming method aided by the Ho-YAG laser. The study was conducted on 69 patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans who had visited our hospital with a chief complaint of intermittent claudication.
The initial success rates were 86% in Argon laser, 90% in Nd-YAG laser, and 87% in Ho-YAG laser. The long-term patency after surgery were 68% in the Argon laser, 64% in the Nd-YAG laser and 84% in the Ho-YAG laser.
Laser angioplasty is an effective technique for the treatment of arteriosclerosis obliterans which can be performed within a short period of time in high risk cases such as those complicated by coronary artery lesions. Combined with bypass surgery, laser angioplasty enabled complete revascularization of the target area.
We proved it possible to obtain a satisfactory initial success rate and favorable long-term patency by carefully selecting the lesion through meticulous observation with the fiberoptic angioscopy.