Thermodynamic correlates of hot tip laser angioplasty

Surface temperatures of normal human cadaver arteries and polytetrofluoroethylene grafts were measured in vitro using thermography to assess vascular wall heating from the metal-capped ("hot tip") laser probe. Laser pulse duration, vessel diameter, blood flow, and saline infusion were varied; power from an Argon laser was constant at 10 watts. The surface temperatures resulting in perforation were 76.2 +/- 2.2 degrees C for arteries and 90.4 +/- 2.1 degrees C for grafts. Blood flow provided an effective heat sink reducing artery and graft wall peak temperatures from 10 watt/5 sec pulses by 12.2 +/- 1.7 and 14.1 +/- 6.1 degrees C at 100 mL/min, and by 16.3 +/- 2.4 and 22.4 +/- 4.9 degrees C at 500 mL/min, respectively. In the occluded conduit, inflow of saline proximal to the probe tip reduced peak temperatures (degrees C) from 10 watt/5 sec pulses as follows: 14.0 +/- 3.2 (artery) and 23.2 +/- 8.5 (graft) at 50 mL/min, and 19.0 +/- 0.6 (artery) and 26.6 +/- 8.5 (graft) at 100 mL/min. Radial heating by the hot tip probe can cause thermal perforation. Blood flow or saline infusion modifies nontarget heating and may offer significant protection to the vasculature.