1. Laser
Angioplasty
A Technological Advancement
in the Medical Field
http://www.socalcardiology.com/intervention.html By: Christina Knott

2. Agenda:
 Definition
 Procedure
 Risks
 Advantages
 Disadvantages
 Conclusions
 References
http://z.about.com/d/p/440/e/f/7110.jpg

3. Definition: https://classes.abrazohealth.com/upload/images/CVHealthTopics/tur
bo%20laser.png
 In a laser assisted angioplasty, a laser-tipped
catheter is used instead of a balloon catheter. The
laser is guided to the blockage that is the source of
all problems and then used to eliminate the plaque
by vaporizing it into particles. Usually, laser assisted
angioplasty is done because it needs to widen the
arteries of the heart that have been blocked or
completely narrowed by blood clots or deposits of
plaque.
(Laser Angioplasty Surgery Facts, 2011)

4. Procedure:
A thin, flexible fibre-optic
catheter connected to a
laser-generating source
outside the body is
introduced via the
femoral artery.
 The catheter is advanced
over a guide-wire through
the artery to the blockage http://im.glogster.com/media/13/37/70/36/37703622.jpg
in the coronary
artery, under fluoroscopic
guidance.

5. Procedure Continued:
 The tip of the catheter
system emits pulses of
laser light to vaporise the
plaque while being slowly
advanced across the
lesion.
 This procedure is often
used with adjunctive
balloon angioplasty and
followed by angiography
to document the results.
http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Hgwtev-XW2Y/0.jpg
(Campbell, 2011)

6. Risks:
 there is a risk of coronary arteries perforation or heart
attack.
 Patients must be monitored for hematoma (bruising)
or hemorrhage (bleeding) at the puncture site.
 May have allergic reaction to dyes administered
during the procedure.
 The procedure also carries risk of damage to the
nearby blood vessels and heart valves.
 In some cases re-narrowing of the arteries is possible.

7. http://www.discoveriesinmedicine.com/images/mdis_0
Advantages:
000_0001_0_img0017.jpg
 is removal of the blockage from the arteries.
 It is effective in both, partial or total removal of the
plaques from the affected blood vessels.
 blood flow in the particular blood vessel is improved.
 is also good for prevention of heart attack.
 The procedure carries less risk comparing to open
heart surgery.

8. Disadvantages:
 equipment needed for performing the
surgery presents high costs.
 its application is restricted to specific
cases
http://medicinemound.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/The-Job-of-
a-Doctor.jpg

9. Conclusions:
I think that with time, this will be the most
common way to fix blockages, it will just
take money and upgrading to get to the
point.
 Every surgery has risks, the benefits of laser
angioplasty definitely outweigh the risks
and if ever necessary, I would have this
procedure performed on myself

10. References:
 Mosby's Medical Dictionary, 8th edition. (2009).
Retrieved July 17, 2012, from Farlex Inc.:
http://medical-
dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/laser+angioplasty
 Angioplasty Pros and Cons. (2010, December 27).
Retrieved July 17, 2012, from Steady Health:
http://ic.steadyhealth.com/angioplasty_pros_and_c
ons.html
 Laser Angioplasty Surgery Facts. (2011). Retrieved
July 17, 2012, from Angioplasty Surgery Facts :
http://angioplastysurgery.net/laser.php

11. References:
 Campbell, B. (2011, January 24).
Percutaneous Laser Coronary Angioplasty.
Retrieved July 17, 2012, from National Institute
for Health and Clinical Excellence:
http://guidance.nice.org.uk/IPG378/DraftNIC
EGuidance
 Skolkin, M. a. (2009). Laser-Assisted
Angioplasty A Radiologist's Perspective.
Retrieved July 17, 2012, from PubMed:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P
MC324880/