YAG laser angioplasty in lower extremity: sole therapy as well as adjunct to balloon dilatation.

To evaluate efficacy of the YAG laser in severe occlusive arterial lesions of lower extremity, 64 lesions were considered for either laser recanalisation (LR) or laser assisted balloon angioplasty (LABA). Indications for the procedure were incapacitating intermittent claudication (28), rest pain (17) and tissue loss (19). Of those 64, 46 (72%) were recanalised whereas 38 (59%) recanalised to adequate diameter. In stenoses, segmental occlusions and total length occlusions, successful recanalisation resulted in 12/12 (100%), 28/35 (80%) and 6/17 (35%) cases respectively. As compared to stenoses and segmental occlusions, successful recanalisation rate was significantly low in total length occlusions (p less than 0.001). Addition of balloon dilatation to LR decreased the requirement of additional by-pass surgery from 6/16 (60%) to 2/30 (7%) (p less than 0.05). Addition of balloon dilatation to LR had improved the results.