Recanalisation of occluded peripheral arteries by excimer laser.

Laser recanalisation was attempted in 24 patients with total segmental occlusions of the lower extremity arteries and the aortic arch branches. All patients were men aged 40-82 years, in 20 the lesions were caused by atherosclerosis, in three by Buerger's thromboangiitis and in one by postembolic occlusion. Angioplasty was performed using excimer lasers with a wavelength of 308 nm and with monofiber waveguides in the transcutaneous transcatheter mode.

[Laser surgery in occlusive diseases of peripheral arteries].

The first experience with the use of an excimeric laser in the treatment of 24 patients with segmental occlusion of the peripheral arteries is discussed. It proved possible to recanalize the obstructed segment of the vessel for its whole distance in 13 patients. Analysis of the complications shows that further technological development of the method is necessary.

[Changes in heart size after surgical correction of rheumatic defects complicated by cardiomegaly in reoperated patients].

Twenty-nine patients with a cardiac volume ranging from 1074 to 1596 ml/m2 and with varying left ventricular myocardial contractility abnormalities underwent surgical therapy for acquired valvular disease. The volume of the heart became normal in 16 patients with hypokinesia of one of the left ventricular walls. There was no positive changes in cardiac sizes in 12 patients with hypokinesia of one or two left ventricular walls.

[Myocardial asynergy of the left ventricle in patients with aortic stenosis].

Left ventriculograms obtained from 21 patients without any intracardiac hemodynamic abnormalities were analyzed by using the correlation method. The analysis revealed three functional areas of the left ventricle and defined normal values of their systolic and diastolic pulses. Hypo- and hyperkinesia of the functional areas in the left ventricle were quantitatively determined.