Laser balloon angioplasty (LBA) is a technique for improving the post angioplasty result by the radial diffusion of continuous wave Neodymium:YAG laser energy to the arterial wall during the final inflation of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Potential mechanisms of luminal improvement include sealing of dissections, reduction of arterial recoil, desiccation of thrombus, and reduction of thrombogenicity of tissues at the luminal surface. These effects are helpful in the management of failed PTCA as defined by the presence of a greater than 50% stenosis after conventional PTCA. Preliminary data suggest that LBA may be safe and effective for the treatment of abrupt closure, with a majority of patients successfully avoiding emergency coronary artery bypass surgery. Similarly, a cohort in which the residual post-PTCA luminal diameter was less than 50% of reference diameter (n=13) was subsequently treated with LBA and demonstrated uniform success in improving luminal diameter, with a mean increment of 0.9mm. Data on the long-term clinical outcome of this cohort is encouraging.