[Percutaneous recanalization of occluded upper leg arteries using laser treatment]

Percutaneous transluminal laser recanalization was attempted in 21 patients with occluded superficial femoral arteries and 'life style limiting claudication'. Primary success was achieved in 20 (95%) of these total occlusions. In 7/21 no laser energy was required. At one month only 1 patient had claudication and the mean Doppler ankle/arm systolic pressure ratio had increased by 0.36 +/- 0.19 (p less than 0.001) at rest and 0.47 +/- 0.34 (p less than 0.001) after exercise. Complications directly attributable to the procedure were: perforation (1), peripheral embolic episodes (2), haematoma (1), transient vasospasm (2). All complications could be treated non-surgically. These preliminary data suggest that laser recanalization of relatively short occlusions of the superficial femoral artery, followed by balloon dilatation, may be accomplished with satisfactory acute and short-term results, but not without risk.