Could lasers minimise the angioplasty restenosis rate?

[hwebb]

Interesting paper suggests that lasers could be used to minimise the restenosis rate from angioplasty.

Usefulness of intravascular low-power laser illumination in preventing restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20920649

[Cece]

Yes, interesting. But this would be for the intimal hyperplasia type of restenosis, which I've always considered the least of our concerns with types of restenosis (elastic recoil and thrombosis being more prevalent thus far). Until we get some registry data and see if intimal hyperplasia is happening, it's probably best to hold off on the lasers or cryotherapy, IMO.

(I am however more concerned about intimal hyperplasia than I used to be, thanks Dr. Cumming.... ) ;)