[Peripheral pulsed laser angioplasty--4-year clinical experience]

In 134 patients, 21 iliac, 91 femoropopliteal and 22 crural arterial occlusions were treated by percutaneous laser-assisted angioplasty and in 32 patients femoropopliteal occlusions by conventional balloon angioplasty. Laser angioplasty could be performed in 126 patients following initial guide wire recanalisation using 9.7 and 4.5-F multifiber catheters, respectively. In 72 patients a 308-nm excimer laser and in 54 patients a 504-nm pulsed day laser was used. Luminal opening by laser angioplasty was obtained in 102 of 126 (81%) procedures (9 incomplete catheter passages, 15 persistent occlusions). 95% of iliac, 90% of femoropopliteal and 77% of crural recanalizations including supplemental balloon dilatations (n = 105) and stent implantations (n = 24) succeeded technically. Clinical success rates at 1 (2) years after angioplasty were 95% (89%) for iliac, 66% (63%) for femoropopliteal and 57% (50%) for crural treatments. Technical and clinical results of laser-assisted femoropopliteal recanalizations showed no significant differences in comparison to the results of conventional balloon angioplasty. The use of pulsed lasers for the treatment of peripheral arterial occlusive disease would require further technical improvements.