Atherectomy�is a procedure used to remove plaque�cholesterol and fibrous tissue that blocks arteries. During an atherectomy, a clogged artery is cleared by cutting, shaving or vaporizing the plaque that is blocking a blood vessel. A device called catheter is used to perform an atherectomy.
Atherectomy treats diseased coronary arteries, but is used far less commonly in arteries outside the heart.
Today most atherectomy procedures are performed in the coronary arteries. Atherectomy in peripheral arteries like those in other parts of the body such as the legs are done rarely.
Symptoms
Atherectomy may be recommend for different reasons. Some of these may include:
Location or shape of the plaque
Size and anatomy of the person’s arteries
Calcified or exceptionally hard plaque
Clots present in the artery
Procedure
The site where the catheters are inserted (usually above the femoral artery in the groin) is cleaned and shaved and is numbed with a local anesthetic. The physician then makes a tiny incision in the skin and inserts a guide wire and then a catheter sheath over the wire. Catheters may be withdrawn and inserted through the sheath during the procedure.
Based on an arteriogram, the physician chooses the appropriate device to perform the atherectomy. There are two main categories of atherectomy devices�those that shave or cut plaques, and those that pulverize plaques. Once the physician has selected the appropriate device, he or she advances it through the arteries to the plaque.
In Rotational atherectomy uses a tiny rotating cutting blade to open a narrowed artery and improve blood flow to or from the heart. Often a stent�a small tube made of metal mesh�is put in the artery to prevent it from re-narrowing. Rotational atherectomy is the most common atherectomy procedure and is used to treat complex lesions and in-stent restenosis.
Risks
Atherectomy is relatively safe and usually has no complications. But, as with any surgery, there are certain degrees of risks involved. Some of these are listed below:
Hematoma (Collection of Blood in the tissues)
Clot formation
Artery perforation
Vessel Spasm
Distal embolization (pieces of blood clots break away and travel beyond the site of atherectomy)
Splitting open of a blood vessel
Hemoglobinuria (presence of hemoglobin in the urine)
Abrupt vessel closure
Heart Attack
Special precautions are taken to decrease these risks and there may be other possible risks. Your doctor would talk to you about the risks of the procedure and why the procedure is recommended.
Recovery
You might have to spend a couple of days in the hospital depending on how well you recover after the surgery. Most people are able to get back to normal activities after a couple of days
