excimer laser coronary angioplasty
Also written as: ELCA — Excimer Laser Coronary Angioplasty
A catheter-based intervention using ultraviolet laser energy to ablate atherosclerotic tissue and thrombus in coronary arteries.
Full Definition
Excimer laser coronary angioplasty (ELCA) utilizes a catheter-delivered xenon chloride excimer laser that emits ultraviolet light at 308 nanometers to vaporize atherosclerotic plaque and thrombus. The laser energy breaks molecular bonds in tissue through photochemical ablation rather than thermal effects, creating precise tissue removal with minimal collateral damage. ELCA is particularly effective for treating undilatable lesions, chronic total occlusions, in-stent restenosis, and saphenous vein graft disease. The procedure requires careful technique to avoid vessel perforation and optimal results often necessitate adjunctive balloon angioplasty or stenting.
Usage
Usage note: ELCA is the standard abbreviation. Specify wavelength (308 nm) when technical precision is required.
In Context
- "ELCA was utilized to treat the undilatable in-stent restenotic lesion in the mid-RCA with successful plaque modification." — Interventional procedure note
- "The excimer laser catheter was advanced slowly through the chronic total occlusion with pulsed laser energy delivery." — Catheterization report