PURPOSE: The clinical efficacy of 44 successful conventional and laser-assisted recanalizations of the femoropopliteal artery was assessed in a noncomparative study by the life-table method. METHODS: Laser-assisted angioplasty using continuous laser and a sapphire probe was performed to achieve primary recanalization in femoral artery occlusions when conventional guidewire recanalization had already failed. Nineteen of the patients underwent a conventional recanalization (PTA; mean length of occlusion 4.4 +/- 4.1 cm), and 25 underwent percutaneous laser-assisted angioplasty (PLA; mean length of occlusion 10.1 +/- 6.7 cm). RESULTS: There was no statistical relation between the preprocedure Fontaine classification and the success rate in the PTA cases (p = 0.25), whereas there was a statistical relation in the PLA cases: The success rate in patients preprocedurally classified as Fontaine II was better than in those classified as Fontaine III/IV (p = 0.05). After a 3-year follow-up the patency rate in the patients with the PTA recanalizations was 37% and that in those with the PLA procedure was 53%. This difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.47). CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the laser should remain an investigational device.
PURPOSE: The clinical efficacy of 44 successful conventional and laser-assisted recanalizations of the femoropopliteal artery was assessed in a noncomparative study by the life-table method. METHODS: Laser-assisted angioplasty using continuous laser and a sapphire probe was performed to achieve primary recanalization in femoral artery occlusions when conventional guidewire recanalization had already failed. Nineteen of the patients underwent a conventional recanalization (PTA; mean length of occlusion 4.4 +/- 4.1 cm), and 25 underwent percutaneous laser-assisted angioplasty (PLA; mean length of occlusion 10.1 +/- 6.7 cm). RESULTS: There was no statistical relation between the preprocedure Fontaine classification and the success rate in the PTA cases (p = 0.25), whereas there was a statistical relation in the PLA cases: The success rate in patients preprocedurally classified as Fontaine II was better than in those classified as Fontaine III/IV (p = 0.05). After a 3-year follow-up the patency rate in the patients with the PTA recanalizations was 37% and that in those with the PLA procedure was 53%. This difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.47). CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the laser should remain an investigational device.
Authors: J Lammer; E Pilger; F Karnel; H Schurawitzki; W Horvath; M Riedl; H Umek; G E Klein; H Schreyer; G Kretschmer Journal: Radiology Date: 1991-02 Impact factor: 11.105
Authors: R R Murray; R C Hewes; R I White; S E Mitchell; M Auster; R Chang; S Kadir; M L Kinnison; S L Kaufman Journal: Radiology Date: 1987-02 Impact factor: 11.105
Authors: E C Martin; E I Fankuchen; K B Karlson; C Dolgin; R H Collins; A B Voorhees; W J Casarella Journal: AJR Am J Roentgenol Date: 1981-11 Impact factor: 3.959