Coronary Atherectomy

Why Use Rotational Atherectomy?

Calcium is out there. The prevalence of calcium is 12% in cases using angiographic imaging. With IVUS, it’s seen in approximately 26% of cases.¹

Calcium can preclude optimal stenting. Asymmetrical stent expansion occurs in up to 50% of cases where calcium is not treated before stent deployment.²

With DES, rotational atherectomy is an important tool for calcified lesions. Lesion preparation with compliance change for a calcified lesion can substantially facilitate stent delivery and symmetrical stent expansion for more homogeneous drug delivery.³

Patients with lesions that appear treatable with PTCA or stenting may have benefited from pre-treatment with rotational atherectomy.

• Single stent placed
• Post Dilatation with a non- compliant balloon. (figure 1)
• Results sub-optimal. (figure 2)

Learn more about the Rotablator System »

Additional Information

Results from case studies are not predictive of results in other cases. Results in other cases may vary. Case images courtesy of Arthur Lee, MD, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente, San Jose, CA.

¹ Mintz et al., Patterns of Calcification in Coronary Artery Disease. Circulation April 1995, Volume 91, No 7
² Moussa, Moses, Columbo et al., Coronary Stenting After Rotational Atherectomy in Calcified and Complex Lesions. Circulation 1997; 96:128-136
³ Iakovou, I. et. al., J Am Coll Cardiol 2005;46:1446-55