Treatment of complex coronary lesions by excimer laser coronary atherectomy:the initial experiences in China / 中国介入心脏病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective Excimer laser coronary atherecomy ( ELCA) has been recently used for the treatment of complex coronary lesions including calcified stenosis , chronic total occlusions and in-stent restenosis. Such complex lesions are difficult to adequately treat with balloon angioplasty and /or intracoronary stenting.The aim of this study was to introduce our early experiences in using ELCA in China . Methods Fifteen patients were enrolled through our center from March 2015 to April 2016 , and excimer laser coronary angioplasty was performed on 15 lesions.Eleven patients were previously failed cases either from uncrossable balloon ( 9 lesions ) or expandable balloon ( 6 lesions ) . The procedure and clinical endpoints were recorded .Results Laser catheter with 0.9 mm diameters were used in all 15 coronary lesions.All the lesions were successfully crossed with laser catheter and finally dilated with balloon .The procedural success rate was 100%.Drug eluting stents ( DES ) were implanted in 86.7% lesions and 2 cases were treated with drug eluting balloon .Clinical success was obtained in all patients (100%).There was no dissection , major side branch occlusion , spasm, no-reflow phenomenon nor acute vessel closure . Conclusions This study shows that laser-facilitated coronary angioplasty is a simple , safe and effective device for the management of complex coronary lesions .