[Peripheral excimer laser angioplasty. The indications, methods and clinical results]

Between March 1989 and January 1990, percutaneous transluminal excimer laser angioplasty was performed in 61 patients (40 men and 21 females; mean age 66 [41-86] years) with 65 peripheral arterial occlusions (iliac: 11, femoropopliteal: 48, tibial: 5, left subclavian artery: 1). The average ankle-arm index before treatment was 0.45 (0.2-0.8) for iliac, 0.52 (0-0.7) for femoropopliteal and 0.3 (0.1-0.4) for tibial occlusion. Recanalization was successful in 58 occlusions, but additional balloon dilatation was necessary in 54. The mean residual stenosis degree after laser application was 54%, after balloon dilatation 22%. Postangioplasty thromboembolism occurred in five patients. Intravascular stents were implanted in 11 patients because of extensive dissection or high-grade restenosis. After four weeks the clinical findings were improved in 54 of the 58 patients, in 47 even after six months. At that point the average ankle-arm index was 0.88 (0.5-1.1) after iliac, 0.79 (0.6-1.15) after femoropopliteal and 0.6 (0.4-0.7) after tibial recanalization.