Vascular thrombosis is a major component leading to acute cardiovascular events. Rapid and efficient thrombolysis is critical for quick relief of symptoms and prevention of organ damage. This article describes the excimer laser ablation of thrombus and effect on blood components, by-products of excimer laser ablation and hemoglobin release into the medium. In conclusion, this background data could help the operator select catheter sizes and laser energy protocols depending on the needs of a particular case. If a situation consisted of a thrombus in an artery with poor distal run off then a smaller catheter with lower energies may be selected. On the other hand a large vessel with a large thrombus load and good distal run off may be approached with a larger catheter and higher energies. These types of decisions can be based on the basic data and implemented in a clinical situation. However, the choice of how to proceed in a case would always depend on the judgment of the operator and the presented data are meant to serve only as broad guidelines.
