Peripheral arterial obstructions: Analysis of patency 1 year after laser-assisted transluminal angioplasty

Sixty-eight peripheral angioplasty procedures were augmented with direct argon laser energy in 63 non-consecutive patients. Technical success was achieved in 100% of femoropopliteal stenoses, 88% of femoropopliteal occlusions (mean length, 9 cm), and 71% of occluded iliac segments (mean length, 6 cm). In femoropopliteal arteries, the primary success rate was 83% (15 of 18) for occlusions longer than 7 cm and 92% (22 of 24) for occlusions 7 cm or shorter (P = .63). Complications included three thermal perforations and two emboli. The 1-year patency rate was 75% overall and 91% for femoropopliteal stenoses; iliac and femoropopliteal occlusions had patency rates of 79% and 60%, respectively. Disease severity was predictive of 1-year patency (85% for claudication vs 23% for limb-threatening ischemia; P = .0003), while distal runoff and femoropopliteal lesion length was not (P = .30 and .69, respectively). For patients with claudication who had femoropopliteal occlusions, a 1-year patency rate of 84% was obtained in short lesions versus 68% in long lesions (P = .36). For patients with limb-threatening ischemia, similar stratifications yielded patency rates of 21% and 33% (P = .38).