Applicability of 10 Watt Argon-Laser to Recanalisation of Obliterated Arterial Segments

The aim of our study was to demonstrate the effect of Argon-Laser light on atherosclerotic obliterations of postmortal human vessels. The structure of the experiment was the following: 12 postmortal segments of the human A. femoral is with al length of 15 mm and atherosclerotic alterations were positioned in a basin containing physiological solution. The friction resistance between the vessel segment and the bottom of the basin was low. The distal fiber tip was directed into the obliterated vessel lumen. A steady velocity of 0.18 or 0.29 mm/s of the fiber was obtained by linear feeding. The proximal fiber tip was coupled to a 10-W-Argon-Laser. The initial distance between the distal fiber tip and the obliteration was 5 mm. With the beginning of irradiation the motor of the linear feeding was switched on. The laser process was observed through a stereo microscope and was interrupted either by the distal fiber tip appearing at the distal end of the vessel or the location of the vessel segment was changed. The diameter and depth of the channel and the level of fiber soiling were analysed.