Excimer laser angioplasty: technological challenges in expanding the indications for use

摘要

A xenon chloride excimer laser system has been approved for use in the treatment of coronary artery disease for the following indications: (1) lesions longer than 20 mm, (2) moderately calcified lesions, (3) total occlusions crossable with a guidewire, (4) undilatable or uncrossable balloon angioplasty failures, (5) ostial lesions, 6) lesions in saphenous vein bypass grafts. This series of indications represent a set of lesions which have been associated with lower success rates when treated by balloon alone. This series of indications is also much broader than those available for atherectomy devices.