ARGON AND EXCIMER-LASER ANGIOPLASTY IN PATIENTS WITH FEMORAL AND POPLITEAL LESIONS - CLINICAL AND ANGIOGRAPHIC RESULTS AFTER 1 YEAR

The aim of this study was to compare acute and long term results of th ermic argon laser versus athermic XeCl-excimer laser for recanalizatio n of femoropopliteal lesions in 43 patients with peripheral vascular d iesease stage IIb to IV according to Fontaine. The argonlaser system w as applied in 29 lesions (9 stenoses, , 20 occlusions up to 31 cm leng th) and an excimerlaser was used in 28 lesions (10 stenoses, 18 occlus ions up to 30 cm length). In all cases balloondilatation followed lase r recanalization to achieve a sufficient primary result (< 25 % stenos is rate). Primary success was obtained in 86 % with both laser systems . After 1 year 62.5 of the recanalized vessels with excimer laser and 56 % with argon laser were still patent. Neither acute nor long term r esults showed significant differences between both laser systems. Comp ared to the argon laser, the procedure with the excimer laser was of s horter duration which may be advantageous under routine conditions. Af ter one year, combining the results of both systems, the reocclusion r ates of stenoses amounted to 22 %, the reocclusion rates of short dist ance occlusions to 35 % and that of long occlusions more than 10 cm le ngth to 71 %. With regard to the high reocclusion rate after reopening of long occlusions the laser systems seem to be of advantage, compare d to balloonangioplasty mainly in critical stenosis and short occlusio ns which cannot be passed with the guide-wire.