The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 51, 670-672, Copyright © 1991 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Excimer laser angioplasty during aortocoronary bypass grafting
C Blanche, J Segalowitz, LS Czer, S Wong and JM Matloff
Department of Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048.
Laser coronary angioplasty using the 308-nm Excimer laser was successfully
performed intraoperatively during coronary artery bypass grafting. It
achieved a reduction of the left anterior descending artery stenosis from
99% to 25% as seen on angioscopy, without evidence of vascular perforation
or intimal disruption. The Excimer laser offers the opportunity for
intraoperative endovascular remodeling and recanalization and has a
potential role as an adjunct to existing standard coronary artery bypass
grafting protocol.