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At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

Percutaneous peripheral atherectomy of femoropopliteal stenoses using a new-generation device: six-month results from a single-center experience.

PURPOSE: To report the early and 6-month results after atherectomy of femoropopliteal lesions using a new atherectomy device compatible with a 7-F sheath. METHODS: Fifty-two patients (36 men; mean age 67+/-7 years) with stable, chronic lower limb occlusive disease were enrolled prospectively in a study of percutaneous directional atherectomy using the SilverHawk Atherectomy Catheter. The 71 femoropopliteal stenoses were grouped for analysis according to pathology: 30 (42%) primary stenoses, 27 (38%) native vessel restenoses, and 14 (20%) in-stent restenoses. The overall average stenosis length was 48+/-64 mm (range 10-300). There were more diabetics in the primary lesion cohort, whereas the lesion length of the in-stent restenoses was nearly twice as long as the other groups. RESULTS: After atherectomy alone, residual stenosis was < or =50% in 68 (96%) lesions and < or =30% in 54 (76%). Additional balloon angioplasty was used in 41 (58%) lesions, primarily to smooth the arterial contour; stents were implanted in 4 (6%) arteries. Acute results after atherectomy and additional therapy were identical for the 3 groups (mean residual stenosis 15% in primary lesions, 8% in restenoses, and 14% in in-stent lesions). At the beginning of the study, 5 cases of tissue embolism were successfully treated with aspiration (device modification solved this problem). Restenosis rates after 6 months were not significantly lower in primary lesions (27%) compared with the other groups (41% for restenoses and 36% for in-stent restenoses). Reintervention after 6 months was also lowest for primary lesions (20% versus 37% for restenoses and 29% for in-stent lesions; p=NS). The ankle-brachial index was significantly improved after 6 months in all groups. At the 6-month follow-up, >80% of all patients were symptom free or had no lifestyle-limiting claudication. CONCLUSIONS: Short and medium-length femoropopliteal lesions can be treated successfully and safely in most cases with this new atherectomy catheter. Technical and 6-month clinical outcomes seem to favor primary lesions compared with restenoses.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Effect of rotational atherectomy on the coronary microcirculation in patients with angina pectoris.

OBJECTIVES: The coronary microcirculation can be impaired by ablated debris just after a rotational atherectomy procedure, but the specific effects of rotablation on the microcirculation have not been investigated. The present study examined the effects of rotational atherectomy on the coronary microcirculation by analyzing coronary flow reserve (CFR) and the component parameters of the coronary flow-pressure loop. METHODS: This study included 31 patients with angina pectoris who underwent stent implantation after rotational atherectomy and with < 50% diameter stenosis at 6-month follow-up (i.e. without clinical restenosis). The CFR, the flow-pressure slope index (FPSI) and zero-flow pressure were measured using the FloWire Doppler guidewire in both treated and untreated reference vessels without stenosis immediately after and on 6 months from the rotational atherectomy procedure. RESULTS: CFR and FPSI in the treated vessels were significantly lower than in the untreated reference vessels without stenosis just after rotational atherectomy (CFR: 2.1 +/- 0.5 vs 2.6 +/- 0.7, p < 0.05; FPSI: 1.61 +/- 0.8 vs 2.35 +/- 0.9 cm/sec/mmHg, p < 0.05), but no significant differences were observed in CFR or FPSI between these same sets of arteries at follow-up. There was also a significant correlation between the extent of attenuation of CFR and total ablation time (r = - 0.54, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Rotational atherectomy attenuates CFR by reducing coronary artery conductance, probably due to coronary microvessel obstruction with the debris ablated during the procedures of rotational atherectomy.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Comparative angiographic quantitative analysis of the immediate efficacy of coronary atherectomy with balloon angioplasty, stenting, and rotational ablation.

Interventional cardiology has branched in two directions: devices that primarily dilate coronary stenoses and those that debulk coronary tissue. Presently the optimum coronary intervention has not been found. While patients are awaiting randomized trials, a comparison based on matched quantitative coronary analysis may be useful to evaluate results of new interventional techniques. Therefore we compared 51 patients undergoing atherectomy with individually matched patients who were undergoing balloon angioplasty and stenting. The lesions were matched according to location of stenosis and reference diameter. Atherectomy and stenting resulted in larger gains in minimal luminal diameter compared with conventional balloon angioplasty. The minimal luminal diameter was increased from 1.2 +/- 0.4 mm to 2.6 +/- 0.4 mm in the atherectomy group and from 1.2 +/- 0.3 mm to 1.9 +/- 0.4 mm in the angioplasty group (p less than 0.00001). Atherectomy and stenting resulted in similar gains in minimum luminal diameter (1.4 mm vs 1.3 mm, p = NS). In addition, atherectomy and stenting appear to be more effective in resisting elastic recoil because of tissue removal and an intrinsic dilating effect, respectively. In matched populations directional atherectomy and stenting appear to be more effective intracoronary interventional devices than balloon angioplasty based on the immediate results. However, atherectomy is limited in smaller coronary vessels because of its larger size.

Angioplasty, Laser↗
PubMed1990

Transluminal atherectomy of saphenous vein aortocoronary bypass grafts.

Angioplasty of stenotic saphenous vein aortocoronary bypass grafts is often unsatisfactory because of the relatively high incidence of acute complications and restenosis. During an initial evaluation of transluminal coronary atherectomy, 14 patients had atherectomy of saphenous vein graft lesions (15 grafts). Atherectomy was successful in 13 of 14 patients, decreasing the mean diameter of stenosis from 85 to 15%. In 1 patient, the lesion could not be crossed by the atherectomy device. The following 3 minor complications occurred: 1 embolus of atheromatous material; 1 air embolism; and 1 transient thrombosis leading to subendocardial myocardial infarction. Of the 14 patients, 8 underwent angiography 4 to 6 months after atherectomy; 5 patients had restenosis and 3 had widely patent grafts. Four other patients were clinically evaluated at 3 months after atherectomy. Two were asymptomatic, 1 had class II angina and 1 had class III angina. Transluminal atherectomy achieved excellent immediate results with a low incidence of major complications in the treatment of stenosed saphenous vein bypass grafts. However, preliminary follow-up results suggest a high incidence of restenosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Clinical angiographic and histologic correlates of ectasia after directional coronary atherectomy.

Directional coronary atherectomy can cause ectasia (final area stenosis less than 0%), presumably due to an excision deeper than the angiographically "normal" arterial lumen. In a multicenter series in which quantitative coronary arteriography was performed after directional atherectomy in 382 lesions (372 patients), ectasia after atherectomy occurred in 50 (13%) lesions. By univariate analysis, ectasia was seen more often within the circumflex coronary artery (p = 0.008), in complex, probably thrombus-containing lesions (p = 0.015), and with higher device:artery ratios (p less than 0.001). Ectasia occurred less often in lesions within the right coronary artery (p = 0.008). Histologic analysis demonstrated adventitia or media, or both, in all patients with angiographic ectasia. Repeat angiography was performed in 188 of 271 eligible patients (69%) 6.1 +/- 2.4 months after atherectomy. Restenosis, defined as a follow-up area stenosis greater than or equal to 75%, was present in 50% of patients without procedural ectasia and in 70% of patients with marked ectasia (residual area stenosis less than -20%; p = 0.12). It is concluded that excision beyond the normal arterial lumen may occur after directional coronary atherectomy, related, in part, to angiographic and procedural features noted at the time of atherectomy. Restenosis tends to occur more often in patients with marked ectasia after coronary atherectomy.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Acute and long-term outcome of narrowed saphenous venous grafts treated by endoluminal stenting and directional atherectomy.

Angioplasty of the narrowed saphenous vein bypass grafts remains a difficult challenge. Over a 37-month period at this institution, 119 of 176 interventions (68%) on saphenous vein grafts (average age 8.3 years from bypass surgery to graft intervention) were performed using either directional coronary atherectomy (n = 35) or Palmaz-Schatz intracoronary stents (n = 84), representing 37% of all stents and 15% of all atherectomies during the study period, respectively. Of the 57 saphenous vein graft lesions treated with conventional balloon angioplasty during this period, 49 (86%) had 1 or more contraindications to stenting or directional atherectomy (thrombus, total occlusion, reference vessel less than 3 mm in diameter). The acute success rate was 99% for stents (1 failure to dilate) and 94% for directional atherectomy (2 failures to cross the lesion with the atherectomy device). Lumen diameter increased from 0.9 to 3.6 mm (reference vessel 3.6) for stents, and from 0.9 to 3.5 mm (reference 3.8) for atherectomy (for all comparisons, p = not significant), with no major complications (abrupt or subabrupt closure, emergent coronary bypass surgery, death, or Q-wave myocardial infarctions). During the same time period 50 of 57 vein grafts (88%) rejected for stenting or atherectomy were dilated successfully by conventional balloon angioplasty, with 3 patients (5%) requiring emergent coronary bypass surgery. Angiographic follow-up was available for 50 of 64 eligible patients (78%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Mechanisms of balloon angioplasty and directional coronary atherectomy as assessed by intracoronary ultrasound.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to use intracoronary ultrasound imaging to elucidate the physical effects of balloon angioplasty and directional coronary atherectomy in vivo in humans. BACKGROUND: The proposed mechanisms of coronary artery interventions such as balloon angioplasty and directional atherectomy are based on animal studies or pathologic findings and these data may not be applicable to living patients. Intracoronary ultrasound findings correlate highly with pathologic results and may allow in vivo assessment of the mechanisms of such interventions in humans. METHODS: Intracoronary ultrasound imaging was performed in 45 patients after a successful coronary intervention (balloon angioplasty in 30, directional coronary atherectomy in 15). Ultrasound images obtained at the treatment site and at an adjacent angiographically normal references site were analyzed quantitatively for minimal lumen diameter, cross-sectional lumen area, are enclosed by the internal elastic lamina, plaque area (internal elastic lamina area--lumen area) and percent area stenosis (plaque area/internal elastic lamina area). Qualitative analysis included assessment of presence of dissection, plaque composition and plaque topography. RESULTS: The results of the two procedures were similar with respect to minimal lumen diameter (angioplasty 2.6 +/- 0.5 vs. atherectomy 2.6 +/- 0.3 mm, p = NS), lumen area (0.07 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.07 +/- 0.02 cm2, p = NS) and percent area stenosis (59 +/- 14% vs. 51 +/- 21%, p = NS). However, after angioplasty, the internal elastic lamina area was significantly larger at the treated site than at the reference site (delta = +0.03 +/- 0.04 cm2, p = 0.01). There was no significant difference between the two sites after atherectomy (delta = -0.01 +/- 0.05 cm2, p = NS). In addition, dissection was seen significantly more often after balloon angioplasty than after atherectomy (50% vs. 7%, p less than 0.01). The results were similar when stratified for plaque composition and morphology. These data were confirmed in six additional patients who underwent ultrasound imaging before and after the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, the improvement in lumen dimensions after coronary balloon angioplasty is a result of both vessel stretch, demonstrated by a larger internal elastic lamina area at the treated site, and dissection. Both vessel stretch and dissection are uncommon after atherectomy, a finding consistent with plaque removal as the major mechanism for improved lumen area after this procedure.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Directional atherectomy in the treatment of stenotic dialysis access fistulas.

Directional atherectomy has proved useful in the treatment of peripheral vascular occlusive disease, and the authors have begun using this modality in the treatment of patients with failing hemodialysis access fistulas. The authors describe their initial experience with 13 patients in whom directional atherectomy was used to treat stenotic hemodialysis fistulas. Directional atherectomy was the sole treatment modality for eight patients. Three patients underwent atherectomy after unsuccessful percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). In two patients, unsuccessful atherectomy necessitated subsequent PTA. Directional atherectomy was successful in 10 of 13 patients. In seven of these 10 patients who are still alive, the dialysis fistulas remain patent. Directional atherectomy is a safe and useful technique in the percutaneous treatment of hemodialysis fistula stenosis. Early data indicate patency rates that may be higher than those reported with PTA.

Arteriosclerosis↗
PubMed1989

Blue toe syndrome: treatment with percutaneous atherectomy.

"Blue toe syndrome" refers to digital ischemia of the foot in the presence of palpable or Doppler audible pedal pulses. This clinical syndrome is caused by microembolization to small vessels from a proximal source. The use of percutaneous transluminal atherectomy is described in the treatment of embologenic superficial femoral artery lesions in seven patients. All seven had prompt healing of the ischemic toes, and none required surgical revascularization or amputation. One patient developed a recurrent stenosis at the atherectomy site and had a second episode of digital ischemia, which was treated by means of atherectomy with a larger device. Histologic study of atherectomy specimens suggests that emboli arise from adherent fibrinoplatelet aggregates or thrombus and less often from cholesterol-rich atheromatous plaque. Although either percutaneous transluminal angioplasty or atherectomy can be used to treat the underlying stenosis, percutaneous atherectomy offers the advantage of nonsurgical removal of embologenic material and provides material for histologic study. Percutaneous atherectomy is an effective method of treating embologenic superficial femoral stenoses in patients with ipsilateral blue toe syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Preliminary experience at a Canadian centre with directional coronary atherectomy for complex lesions.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate preliminary experience of directional coronary atherectomy for complex coronary artery lesions. DESIGN: Nonrandomized, sequential patients with coronary arterial lesions that were ostial, eccentric, bulky, recurrent or membranous. SETTING: Cardiac catheterization laboratory of a tertiary referral general hospital. PATIENTS: Twenty-three patients with angina pectoris refractory to medical therapy who were suitable candidates for coronary bypass surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Directional coronary atherectomy with associated balloon angioplasty, if required, to reduce lesion stenosis to less than 25%. MAIN RESULTS: Primary success was achieved in 29 of 33 lesions (88%) by atherectomy alone and in 31 of 33 lesions (94%) by additional use of balloon angioplasty. Atherectomy retrieved tissue in 30 of 33 attempts (91%). One patient suffered Q wave myocardial infarction; one had acute occlusion after atherectomy requiring emergency balloon angioplasty; and one required repair of a false aneurysm of the femoral artery. CONCLUSIONS: Directional coronary atherectomy is safe and efficacious for ostial, bulky and eccentric lesions not optimally suited to balloon angioplasty. Lesions which have tortuous segments immediately beyond, restricting movement of the stiff nose-cone, and which are membranous or bandlike, may not be indicated for directional coronary atherectomy.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Sirolimus-eluting stents and calcified coronary lesions: clinical outcomes of patients treated with and without rotational atherectomy.

This study examined the outcomes of patients who underwent sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) implantation for the treatment of heavily calcified coronary lesions (HCCL) with and without the use of rotational atherectomy (rotablator). We investigated 150 consecutive patients with angiographic evidence of HCCL who underwent SES implantation. Sixty-nine patients underwent SES implantation without the need of rotablator (SES), and 81 patients required rotational atherectomy to modify the plaque and facilitate the delivery of the stent (SES + rotational atherectomy). Clinical success was equivalent in both groups (>98%) and there were no in-hospital outcome differences. At 6 months, the target lesion revascularization rate was 4.9% in SES vs. 4.2% in SES + rotational atherectomy groups, respectively (P = NS). Mortality at 6 months was 7.9% in the SES group vs. 6.8% in the SES + rotational atherectomy group (P = NS). SES performs well in patients with complex HCCL, with a relative low event rate. Lesions requiring rotational atherectomy to facilitate dilation and stenting had similar outcomes after SES implantation to those that could be stented without the need for rotablator.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

[New studies, new trends: directional coronary atherectomy].

Despite theoretical advantages of Directional Coronary Atherectomy (DCA) vs. PTCA, the first two controlled studies comparing both methods, the Coronary Angioplasty Versus Excisional Atherectomy Trial (CAVEAT), and the Canadian Coronary Atherectomy Trial (CCAT), showed no clinical benefit of DCA, A second generation of trials, the Optimal Atherectomy Restenosis Study (OARS) and the Balloon versus Optimal Atherectomy Trial (BOAT), designed to optimize DCA with the use of 7F devices and adjunctive PTCA revealed lower angiographic restenosis rates compared to CAVEAT. In addition, the preliminary follow-up results of BOAT, presented by Donald S. Baim in Birmingham in August 1996, showed a 20% reduction of angiographic restenosis after DCA compared to PTCA. There was no association between post-procedure CK-MB elevation in the DCA group and late mortality. These results may further expand the application of DCA to clinical routine, whereas this procedure still has specific indications like treatment of ostial and bifurcation lesions and atherectomy in future may be the treatment of choice for restenosis in coronary stents.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗
PubMed1993

Mechanisms of angiographically successful directional coronary atherectomy: evaluation by intracoronary ultrasound and comparison with transluminal coronary angioplasty.

To assess the mechanisms of luminal improvement, 40 patients undergoing directional coronary atherectomy and a matched control group of 25 patients undergoing angioplasty were evaluated with intracoronary ultrasound imaging before and after intervention. Despite similar sized vessels, a similar angiographic severity of diameter stenosis (75 +/- 12% for the angioplasty group vs 69 +/- 15% for the atherectomy group, p = NS), and a similar plaque burden (percent plaque area) before intervention (84 +/- 5% in the angioplasty group vs 85 +/- 13% in the atherectomy group, p = NS), the residual plaque area after intervention was significantly smaller in the atherectomy group (54 +/- 14%) compared with the angioplasty group (65 +/- 13%, p = 0.002). Despite excellent angiographic results, significant residual plaque was noted after either successful intervention. Based on the absolute changes in lumen area, plaque area, and vessel area, improvement in the lumen area in the atherectomy group occurred as a result of plaque "compression" (48%), plaque removal (37%), and vessel expansion (15%). In the angioplasty group, plaque "compression" accounted for 94% of the improvement in lumen area, whereas vessel expansion contributed 6%. Thus "compression" of plaque remains the major mechanism of luminal improvement during atherectomy.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Angiographic, ultrasonic, and angioscopic assessment of the coronary artery wall and lumen area configuration after directional atherectomy: the mechanism revisited.

The purpose of the present study was to use the complementary information of angiography, intravascular ultrasound, and intracoronary angioscopy before and after directional atherectomy to characterize the postatherectomy appearance of vessel wall contours and the mechanism of lumen enlargement. Directional coronary atherectomy aims at debulking rather than dilating a coronary artery lesion. The selective removal of the plaque may potentially minimize the vessel wall damage and lead to subsequent better late outcome. Whether plaque removal is the main mechanism of action has only to be assessed indirectly by angiography and warrants further investigation with detailed analysis of luminal changes and vessel wall damage by ultrasound and direct visualization with angioscopy. Twenty-six patients have been investigated by quantitative angiography, intravascular ultrasound, and intracoronary angioscopy (n = 19) before and after atherectomy. In addition, all retrieved specimens were microscopically examined. Ultrasound imaging showed an increase in lumen area from 1.95 +/- 0.70 mm2 to 7.86 +/- 2.16 mm2 at atherectomy. The achieved gain mainly resulted from plaque removal because plaque plus media area decreased from 18.16 +/- 4.47 mm2 to 13.13 +/- 3.10 mm2. Vessel wall stretching (i.e., change in external elastic lamina area) accounted for only 15% of lumen area gain. Luminal gain was higher in noncalcified (6.52 +/- 2.12 mm2) lesions than in lesions containing deeply located calcium (5.19 +/- 0.99 mm2) and lowest in superficially calcified lesions (5.41 +/- 2.41 mm2). Ultrasound imaging identified an atherectomy byte in 85% of the cases, whereas angioscopy revealed such a crevice in 74%. The complementary use of the three techniques revealed an underestimation of the presence of dissection/tear and new thrombus by angiography (10% and 4%) and ultrasound imaging (12% and 0%) compared with angioscopy (26% and 21%). The combined use of angiography, ultrasound, and angioscopy reveals that the postatherectomy luminal lining is not as regular and smooth as that seen by angiography. Luminal enlargement with atherectomy is achieved by plaque excision rather than arterial expansion.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Influence of vessel selection on the observed restenosis rate after endoluminal stenting or directional atherectomy.

In comparing the restenosis rates among different interventions, 1 potential confounder might be the differences in the vessels treated, as dictated by the technical limitations of particular devices. The purpose of this study was to use current "acute gain-late loss" analysis to examine what influence vessel selection has on the restenosis rates seen after coronary stenting or directional atherectomy. The minimal luminal diameter of native coronary lesions was measured before and immediately after intervention in 102 single Palmaz-Schatz stents and 347 atherectomies, 367 (82%) of which had repeat angiographic measurement 6 months after intervention. Atherectomy-treated lesions had a higher proportion of left anterior descending to right coronary arteries (68 vs 24%) compared with stents (31 vs 54%), p < 0.001. Although subsequent restenosis rates were similar for stenting (25%) and atherectomy (30%, p = 0.42), left anterior descending versus right coronary lesions had a significantly higher restenosis rate for the overall group (35 vs 18%, p = 0.009), for stents (44 vs 13%, p = 0.008) and for atherectomy (35 vs 22%, p = 0.10), respectively. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that postprocedure luminal diameter (p = 0.03, p = 0.009) and coronary location (the proportion of left anterior descending vessels treated, p = 0.002, p < 0.001), but not device type (stent vs atherectomy), were strong independent determinants of restenosis according to both binary (> 50% diameter stenosis) and continuous (late percent stenosis) definitions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Quantitative analysis of factors influencing late lumen loss and restenosis after directional coronary atherectomy.

Although encouraging initial results have been demonstrated after directional atherectomy, the mechanisms and predictors of late lumen loss and restenosis after this procedure have not been evaluated. To examine these issues, clinical and angiographic follow-up were obtained in 262 (96%) and 212 (77%) of 274 patients undergoing successful directional coronary atherectomy. Symptom recurrence developed in 87 (33%) patients and angiographic restenosis was found in 93 (44%). Restenosis was highest in re-stenotic lesions in saphenous vein grafts (78% [95% confidence interval (CI): 56 to 100%]) and lowest in new-onset lesions in the left anterior descending (27% [95% CI: 15 to 39%]) and circumflex (14% [95% CI: 0 to 43%]) coronary arteries. Residual lumen diameter immediately after atherectomy was smaller in re-stenotic lesions (p = 0.002) and in lesions > or = 10 mm in length (p = 0.02). Late lumen loss was associated with the minimal lumen diameter immediately after atherectomy (p < 0.001), saphenous vein graft lesion location (p = 0.008), and male gender (p = 0.02). Re-stenotic lesions (p < 0.001), lesions > or = 10 mm in length (p = 0.018), saphenous vein graft lesion location (p = 0.025) and male gender (p = 0.045) were independent predictors for restenosis. It is concluded that restenosis after directional atherectomy is related both to factors resulting in a suboptimal initial result and to factors contributing to excessive late lumen loss. These results may have implications for lesion selection in patients undergoing directional coronary atherectomy.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Clinical and angiographic outcome after directional coronary atherectomy. A qualitative and quantitative analysis using coronary arteriography and intravascular ultrasound.

To assess clinical and angiographic outcome after directional coronary atherectomy, the clinical course of 306 patients undergoing this procedure was reviewed. Directional atherectomy was successful in 290 (94.8%) procedures; complications developed in 8 (2.6%) patients. After atherectomy, percent diameter stenosis was reduced from 71 +/- 14 to 14 +/- 14% (p < 0.001) and minimal lumen diameter was increased from 0.87 +/- 0.42 to 2.55 +/- 0.57 mm (p < 0.001). In 128 (42%) patients, adjunct balloon angioplasty was performed to treat either complications or a residual stenosis > 30%. Intravascular ultrasound was also performed in 57 patients after directional atherectomy and demonstrated that a significant amount of residual plaque mass remained in lesions with a calcium arc > or = 90 degrees (17 +/- 5 mm2 vs 12 +/- 5 mm2 in lesions without calcium; p = 0.007). During the 11 +/- 6 month follow-up period, 69 (28.3%) patients developed recurrent clinical events (death, 5; Q wave myocardial infarction, 8; coronary bypass surgery, 31; coronary angioplasty, 36). Using a proportional hazards model, independent predictors of late clinical events included diabetes mellitus (relative risk [RR] = 1.95; p < 0.05), unstable angina (RR = 2.78; p < 0.005) and a prior history of restenosis (RR = 2.21; p < 0.01). We conclude that directional atherectomy is associated with high procedural success rates and infrequent complications in selected lesions subsets, although the degree of plaque resection may be limited if extensive calcium is present. Late clinical events develop in some (28%) patients after directional atherectomy, related to certain preprocedural clinical risk factors.

Atherectomy, Coronary↗
PubMed1993

Balloon postdilation can safely improve the results of successful (but suboptimal) directional coronary atherectomy.

This study investigates whether adjunctive balloon angioplasty can be safely used to improve acute results in cases where directional coronary atherectomy alone has provided a successful (but suboptimal) outcome. Between October 1, 1990, and October 1, 1992, directional coronary atherectomy was performed successfully in 198 of 228 lesions. Individual operators believed that most acute results were satisfactory after atherectomy alone (group I, n = 115) with a minimal lumen diameter that increased from 0.82 +/- 0.45 to 3.21 +/- 0.65 mm after atherectomy, for an acute gain in lumen diameter of 2.39 +/- 0.73 mm and a residual stenosis of 6 +/- 13%. In 42% of lesions (group II, n = 83), however, results were considered suboptimal after atherectomy alone, with a minimal lumen diameter that increased from 0.85 +/- 0.45 to 2.83 +/- 0.64 mm, a smaller acute gain of 1.96 +/- 0.72 mm, and a mean residual stenosis of 17 +/- 14% (although all residual stenoses were < 50%, 19% had a residual stenosis > 30%). Adjunctive balloon angioplasty in these group II lesions provided an additional gain of 0.34 +/- 0.38 mm, bringing the total acute gain for group II lesions to 2.32 +/- 0.78 mm and the residual stenosis to 9 +/- 13%, similar to that of group I patients who underwent atherectomy alone. This strategy resulted in a 7 +/- 13% overall residual stenosis for the study population, with no higher incidence of periprocedural complications or adverse late clinical outcomes in group II patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗