Excimer laser recanalization of femoropopliteal lesions and 1-year patency: results of the CELLO registry.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a modified laser catheter designed for the endovascular treatment of peripheral artery disease (PAD) affecting the superficial femoral artery (SFA) and proximal popliteal artery.
Methods: The CliRpath Excimer Laser System to Enlarge Lumen Openings (CELLO) study was a single-arm, prospective registry conducted at 17 investigational sites in the United States. The primary endpoint was the reduction in index lesion percent diameter stenosis (% DS) measured by Doppler ultrasound following laser ablation prior to any adjunctive therapy. The primary safety endpoint was major adverse events at 6 months. Sixty-five patients (39 men; mean age 68.3+/-10.1 years) with intermittent claudication, stenotic lesions >70% by visual assessment, a reference vessel diameter >or=4.0 and <or=7.0 mm, and a total lesion length >or=1.0 and <or=15.0 cm underwent laser-assisted recanalization with optional balloon angioplasty (BA) or BA + stenting. Sixty-five de novo lesions (5.6+/-4.7 cm) in 13 occluded and 52 stenotic arteries were treated.
Results: Laser ablation reduced the % DS from 77%+/-15% at baseline to 34.7%+/-17.8%, which was reduced to 21%+/-14.5% after adjunctive therapy with BA (n = 42, 64.6%) or BA + stenting (n = 15, 23.3%). Eight (12.3%) patients did not receive post laser adjunctive therapy. Patency rates (% DS <50%) were 59% and 54% at 6 and 12 months, respectively. Target lesion revascularization was not required in 76.9% of CELLO participants within the 1-year follow-up. There were no major adverse events. The study cohort demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in the walking impairment and functional status assessments during follow-up.
Conclusion: The data validate the safety and efficacy of the investigational device, with a high clinical success rate and 12-month data indicating freedom from reintervention in the majority of patients treated.