[Laser angioplasty of the ilio-femoropopliteal region: an adjuvant procedure for vascular recanalization].

Non-surgical management of ilio-femoropopliteal occlusive arterial disease can be performed by different catheter procedures, including laser angioplasty. In this study preliminary results were presented in patients with complete chronic arterial occlusion (n = 30), using a Nd-YAG laser system in combination with adjuvant catheter methods (balloon dilatation: n = 30; catheter fibrinolysis: n = 4; catheter atherectomy: n = 1). A primary patency rate of 24/30 (80%) was observed using the laser probe. Early reocclusion occurred in 4 cases, non-complicated perforation in 4, dissection of the vessel wall in 2 cases, and macroembolization into the peripheral arteries in the other 3 cases. In 1 patient laser recanalization failed due to extensive calcification. Our results demonstrate that laser angioplasty seems to play an important adjuvant role in the management of chronic arterial occlusion in the lower extremities.