PTA has proven to be an essential tool in the diagnosis of peripheral occlusive vascular disease. It substantially contributes to economize therapy. This volume presents the results of several working groups, gives technical information about new devices such as Laser-PTA and Rotator-PTA, atherectomy, thrombolysis and stent application, and shows the risks. These results are presented with critical appreciation of the advantages and disadvantages and with early and late results. These new developments within the scope of PTA indicate the trends for the future.

Cons of Laser-Angioplasty

Laser-Angioplasty
Clinical Laser Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty
Feasibility of Laser Angioplasty: Physical and Technical Problems
Ultraviolet Laser Angioplasty In Vivo: Reaction and Repair of the Vessel Wall
Percutaneous Transluminal Laser Angioplasty for Treatment of Peripheral Vascular Disease: Clinical Experience with 16 Patients
Excimer Laser Angioplasty
Control of the Optical Fiber During Laser-Assisted Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty: Coaxial Alignment and Other Critical Considerations
Nd-YAG Laser Angioplasty
Nd-YAG Laser Angioplasty with Contact Probes
Argon-Laser Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty with LASTAC System
Early Clinical Experience with Direct Argon Laser Angioplasty in Perhipheral Arteries
Laser-Assisted Angioplasty
New Mechanical Devices
Low-Speed Rotational Angioplasty: Clinical Results in 53 Patients with Chronic Vessel Occlusions
Recanalization Devices for Totally Obstructed Vessels: Atherolytic Wire and the Kensy Recanalization Catheter
The Kensey Catheter
New Mechanical Devices: Technical Modification of the Kensey Rotator
The Pulsating Guidewire
Percutaneous Endovascular Stents
Endovascular Prosthesis: Experimental Study and Clinical Use
Autoexpandable Vascular Endoprosthesis
Vascular Endoprostheses (Stents) in the Treatment of Femoropopliteal Vascular Occlusions
Balloon-Expandable Intraarterial Stents: Effect of Antithrombotic Medication on Thrombus Formation
Flexible, Percutaneously Insertable Balloon-Expandable Arterial Prosthesis
Development of a Balloon-Expandable Flexible Coil for Intraarterial Stenting
Percutaneous Transluminal Angioscopy: Comparison of Findings in Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty, Thrombolysis, Thrombus Extraction and Stent Application
Arguments Against Percutaneous Endovascular Stents
Intraarterial Thrombolysis
Treatment of Occluded Arteries, Arterial Grafts, and Hemodialysis Access Sites Using Local Infusions of Urokinase
Intraarterial Thrombolysis: Cons
Intraarterial Thrombolysis: Pros
Percutaneous Aspiration Thrombembolectomy (PAT)
Advantages of Percutaneous Aspiration Thrombembolectomy
Catheter Thrombolysis with Streptokinase, Urokinase, and Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator for Peripheral Arterial Occlusion
Local Lysis and Percutaneous Transluminal Embolectomy as an Adjunct to Vascular Surgery
Vasospasm Control
Vasospasm Control in Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty
Prophylactic Drugs for Vasospasm Associated with Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty
Aggregation Inhibitors
Aggregation Inhibitors: Pros
Concluding Remarks.