Excimer laser angioplasty was attempted in 59 patients (43 men, 16 women, mean age sixty-three ± eight years, range thirty-nine to seventy-seven years), affected by peripheral vascular disease. Forty-nine patients had a total occlusion of one superficial femoral artery, 3 of one iliac artery, and 1 of one popliteal artery; 6 patients showed a subocclusive stenosis of a superficial femoral artery. Occlusive and subocclusive stenoses were classified by length: < 10 cm (39 cases), > 10 cm (20 cases).
A commercial excimer laser was used at the xenon-chloride wavelength of 308 nm. Successful recanalization was obtained in 53 of 59 patients (90%). Hemodynamic improvement was confirmed by a significant increase of the ankle/ brachial systolic pressure index (from 0.60 ± 0.17 to 0.79 ± 0.20, p < 0.005). The success rate was higher for lesions < 10 cm in length. Early reocclusion was observed in 7 patients and was associated with poor runoff. The cumulative patency rate was 81 % at one month, 67% at six months, and 51 % at one year.
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