[Laser thermal venous obliteration: experimental results in the rat model]

In an animal study, thermal laser application was tested for inducing venous thrombosis. In 54 rats, metal-tipped laser catheters ("hot tip") were trans-jugularly inserted into the distal inferior caval vein which was thermally damaged by laser pulses of 4-7 W. Suitable energy levels were defined in an acute experiment in 25 rats. Chronic experiment with 29 rats included survival time of two weeks after laser application, autopsy and histological work-up of the caval vein. In 27 rats, laser application was successfully performed and induced thrombosis in 17 animals. Perforation of the caval vein occurred in 10 rats. Thermal laser application is capable of inducing venous thrombosis. The power ranges inducing thrombosis or thermal perforation are, however, too narrow to allow safe clinical application of this technique.