Laser angioplasty is a rarely used procedure that uses a tiny laser to remove plaque from clogged arteries. It is a catheter-based procedure in which a thin, hollow tube catheter is inserted through a blood vessel and guided towards the heart in a way similar to that of a balloon angioplasty.

The success rate with this type of procedure is generally good. However, the large number of risks associated with the procedure (e.g., heart attack and perforation of the coronary arteries), coupled with the high cost of the specialized equipment needed to perform the procedure and the proven effectiveness of alternative approaches, limits its application. Currently, it is estimated that laser angioplasty represents less than 1 percent of all coronary revascularization procedures.