Excimer laser angioplasty with adjunctive balloon angioplasty can be safely and successfully performed in diseased, old saphenous vein bypass graft lesions considered at high risk for reintervention. The extent of laser ablation remains limited by the diameter and effectiveness of the catheters. Late restenosis and, in particular, total occlusion mitigate the early benefits of the procedure. Other approaches such as the routine use of additional anticoagulation (eg, warfarin) should be considered to reduce the risk of late occlusions and restenosis after laser angioplasty of bypass grafts.

No abstract