Copyright © 1995 by the European Society of Cardiology.
© 1995 The European Society of Cardiology
Intracoronary ultrasound following excimer-laser angioplasty An in-vitro study in human coronary arteries
Departments of Cardiology, University of Tuebingen Tuebingen, Germany
*Pathology, University of Tuebingen Tuebingen, Germany
Received 20 January 1994; revised 11 July 1994; .
Correspondence: Karl M. Schmid, MD, Department of Cardiology, University of Tuebingen, 10, Otfrid-Mueller-St, 72076 Tuebingen. Germany
Abstract
To study the ablation effects induced by excimer laser coronary angioplasty (ELCA), we examined 41 segments of nine isolated coronary arteries. An electronic intracoronary ultrasound device (ICUS: 20 MHz, 3.5F, Endosonics) was positioned coaxially within the vessel. Angioplasty was performed using a 1.7 mm ELCA catheter (Spectranetics) which was placed in the lumen and directed vertically onto the intimal surface of the vessel (fluence: 1050 mJ. mm 2). The laser catheter was removed after each losing cycle to allow the stepwise evaluation of the morphological effects of ELCA and to avoid reaching the adventitia. Ultrasound images were compared with the corresponding histological specimens.
Key Words: Intracoronary ultrasound excimer laser coronary angioplasty