Atherectomy
- Heart Care
- What to do for Cardiac Emergency
- Angiogram
- Angioplasty and Stenting
- Atherectomy
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Cardiac CT
- Cardiac Nursing
- Cardiac Stenting
- Cardiac Surgery Follow-up Care
- Congestive Heart Failure
- CardioPulmonary Rehabilitation
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Door-to-Balloon Times
- Echocardiography
- Electrophysiology and Cardiac Arrhythmia
- Impella Device
- Nuclear Cardiology
- PFO and ASD Closures
- Cardiac Surgery
- Endovascular Diagnosis and Treatment
- Stroke Care
Atherectomy
Atherectomy is a true breakthrough treatment for coronary artery disease (CAD). Doctors insert tiny blades or rotating cutters into heart arteries to remove plaque (atheroma). Plaque is cholesterol and other fatty substances that accumulate in the inner lining of the artery—a condition known as atherosclerosis, “hardening of the arteries," or coronary artery disease. The removal process is performed in Harrison’s catheterization lab (cath lab) by our experienced interventional cardiologists.
The procedure
Atherectomy often is part of an angioplasty procedure. In traditional angioplasty, the plaque is compressed into the arterial wall, but an atherectomy actually cuts away and removes fatty plaque to widen the artery and improve blood flow. A catheter is inserted into an artery—usually in the groin—but sometimes in the arm or wrist. The catheter is advanced to the heart, and coronary angiograms (X-ray images of blood vessels filled with contrast material) are taken to clearly visualize the narrowed heart artery. Then a separate catheter with a cutting device is advanced to the heart, and into the narrowed coronary artery, where it cuts away at the plaque, widening the artery so blood flow improves.
The physician will choose one of three different devices to perform atherectomy:
- Directional Coronary Atherectomy: a very small rotating blade within a balloon cuts out the plaque and removes it safely from the blood vessel.
- Rotational Atherectomy: a diamond-studded, acorn-shaped drill grinds plaque down and is especially useful for calcified, or hardened, plaques.
Stenting often is done after the procedure to ensure good blood flow in the future. Atherectomy procedures are an important adjunct to our routine balloon angioplasties, including endovascular procedures, and comprise 10 to 20 percent of Harrison’s plaque-modifying therapies.
What to expect
- You will be awake during the procedure. The atherectomy will be performed under local anesthesia with a mild sedative given intravenously.
- You can expect to stay in the hospital after the procedure for care and observation, then resume normal activities after several days. Your doctor will provide specific guidelines for your recovery.
- Typically, there are no side effects from treatment.
- While atherectomy usually provides good relief of symptoms of CAD, you want to make sure they last. Your Harrison cardiac team will discuss the results of the procedure with you and provide details about self care and ways to adopt a healthier lifestyle to prevent further heart disease—and prolong your life.