Application of the 1-μsec pulsed-dye laser to the treatment of experimental cerebral vasospasm

A. Teramura, R. MacFarlane, C. J. Owen, R. De la Torre, K. W. Gregory, R. Birngruber, J. A. Parrish, J. W. Peterson, N. T. Zervas

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Laser energy of 480 nm was applied in 1-μsec pulses varying between 2.2 and 10 mJ to in vitro and in vivo models of cerebral vasospasm. First, the pulsed-dye laser was applied intravascularly via a 320-μm fiber to basilar artery segments from six dogs. The segments were mounted in a vessel-perfusion apparatus and constricted to, on average, 70% of resting diameter by superfusion with dog hemolysate. Immediate increase in basilar artery diameter occurred to a mean of 83% of control. In a second model, the basilar artery was exposed transclivally in the rabbit. In three normal animals, superfusion of the artery with rabbit hemolysate resulted in a reduction of mean vessel diameter to 81% of control. Following extravascular application of the laser, vessels returned to an average of 106% of the resting state. In six rabbits, the basilar artery was constricted by two intracisternal injections of autologous blood, 3 days apart. Two to 4 days after the second injection, the basilar artery was exposed. Extravascular laser treatment from a quartz fiber placed perpendicular to the vessel adventitia resulted in an immediate 53% average increase in caliber to an estimated 107% of control. No reconstriction was observed over a period of up to 5 hours. Morphologically, damage to the arterial wall was slight. This preliminary investigation suggests that the 1-μsec pulsed-dye laser may be of benefit in the treatment of cerebral vasospasm.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)271-276
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of neurosurgery
Volume75
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1991
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • basilar artery
  • dog
  • laser
  • pulsed-dye laser
  • rabbit
  • subarachnoid hemorrhage
  • vasospasm

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Clinical Neurology

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