Laser technologies in treatment of arterial pathology

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular diseases hold a leading position in the structure of mortality in the world. Laser technologies permit to improve the outcomes of endovascular and surgical treatment of various forms of the coronary heart disease and diseases of peripheral arteries. Despite the development of technologies, laser angioplasty and endarterectomy are associated with a number of complications and often require additional intervention. AIM: To analyze currently available data on the use of lasers in treatment of arterial pathology. According to the results of analysis of the modern literature, the use of lasers confidently occupies its niche in endovascular treatment of acute coronary syndrome, chronic occlusions of the coronary and peripheral arteries, permits to optimize the results of stenting and balloon angioplasty. One main disadvantage of laser angioplasty is that in most cases the procedure combines with stenting and/or balloon angioplasty and requires more contrast agent and longer operation time. Large-scale studies on the open laser endarterectomy have not been conducted. CONCLUSION: Further study of the effect of laser on an atherosclerotic plaque and vessel wall in the open endarterectomy is a promising trend that may probably reduce the incidence of perioperative complications and improve long-term results of surgical treatment of diseases of peripheral arteries.