Authors' recommendations: There remains a paucity of good quality evidence on the effectiveness of excimer laser atherectomy for the treatment of distal peripheral arterial disease. While most of the included studies provided some evidence of the procedural success and clinical effectiveness of excimer laser atherectomy (as adjunctive treatment to PTA in most cases), the lack of partitioned reporting in most studies was problematic for accurate interpretation (as interventions or lesion locations were often grouped when results were reported). There was limited generalizability as the patient population was primarily high-risk with chronic, if not severe, limb ischemia. In addition, there was the potential for both selection and intervention bias in the included studies, and most of the studies had small sample sizes. Therefore, results need to be interpreted with caution. No evidence-based guidelines were identified that were associated with excimer laser and stenting in adult patients with distal peripheral arterial disease.

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2015

URL for published report: http://www.cadth.ca/sites/default/files/pdf/htis/jan-2015/RC0630%20Excimer%20Laser%20in%20DPAD%20Final.pdf

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Rapid Review

Country: Canada

Organisation Name: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health

Contact Address: 600-865 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1S 5S8 Canada. Tel: +1 613 226 2553; Fax: +1 613 226 5392;

Contact Name: requests@cadth.ca

Contact Email: requests@cadth.ca

Copyright: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH)