EXCIMER LASER CORONARY ANGIOPLASTY

Course overview

EXCIMER LASER CORONARY ANGIOPLASTY (ELCA) IS A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE TECHNIQUE AS AN ADJUNCT TO CONVENTIONAL PCI AND CAN IMPROVE CLINICAL OUTCOMES WHEN USED IN THE APPROPRIATE CONTEXT. ITS PRIMARY APPLICATION CURRENTLY IS FOR LESIONS THAT ARE UNCROSSABLE OR UN-DILATABLE WITH CONVENTIONAL BALLOONS. THIS ARTICLE PROVIDES A CONCISE REVIEW OF THE ELCA TECHNIQUE AND FOCUSES ON ITS ROLE IN INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE BASIC CONCEPTS BEHIND EXCIMER LASERS, INDICATIONS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS, PROCEDURAL STEPS, POTENTIAL COMPLICATIONS, AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN EVALUATING AND IMPROVING CARE FOR PATIENTS WHO UNDERGO THIS PROCEDURE.