Summary
Background and Objective: Since most clinical laser angioplasties require the use of over-the-wire delivery
systems, we studied the effects of pulsed dye laser energy (504 nm, 1.4 μs) on arterial
vessel walls in combination with a multifiber catheter system.
Material and Methods: Postmortem arterial segments (n = 368) were exposed under blood or saline. Laser
pulses (n = 100-800) were transmitted via 9F-multifiber-catheters, at energy densities
of 3-16 J/cm2. Ablation characteristics revealed by histologic examination and morphometry were
analyzed by multiple analysis of variance.
Results: Ablation occurred more frequently in saline compared to blood. Below an energy density
of 10 J/cm2 ablation occurred in saline only. Specimens irradiated under blood showed only thermal
changes at 10 J/cm2. In saline, 92% of normal, 88% of fibro-fatty and 60% of calcified tissue showed
ablation at 13 J/cm2. The average ablation threshold in saline was about 3-4 J/cm2 per pulse for normal tissue, 5 J/cm2 for fatty plaques, and 8-9 J/cm2 for calcified plaques. In blood, the average ablation thresholds did not differ significantly
between the different stages of arteriosclerosis (12 J/cm2 for normal tissue, 11 J/cm2 for fatty plaque, and 10 J/cm2 for calcified tissue). Carbonization and vacuolization were seen regularly at energy
levels ≥13.4 J/cm2.
Conclusions: Selective ablation of arteriosclerotic tissue with the pulsed dye laser could not
be found. Further investigation is needed before an effective ablation of arteriosclerotic
arterial tissue can be expected.
