Rotational ablation of coronary artery lesions using single, large burrs

Rotational atherectomy: a "survivor" in the drug-eluting stent era

Mechanical debulking of coronary plaques with rotational atherectomy (RA) has been used for more than 20 years during percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). Modification of plaque characteristics may be accomplished with selective ablation of inelastic fibrocalcific tissue. The use of RA, though reduced with the development of bare-metal stents (BMS) and even more with drug-eluting stents (DES), has never been completely abandoned. The present review will analyze reasons for conflicting results obtained in large series and randomized trials on this topic in the past, and will identify criteria for an appropriate use in current times.

Rotational atherectomy with adjunctive balloon angioplasty versus conventional percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in type B2 lesions: results of a randomized study

A randomized pilot study was performed comparing conventional balloon angioplasty (percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty [PTCA] group) and rotational atherectomy (RA) with a medium size burr (50% to 70% burr/artery ratio) with systematic adjunctive balloon angioplasty (RA group) in type B2 stenosis. A total of 64 patients were included. Primary success was 93.7% in the RA group and 87.5% in the PTCA group (p = NS). Technical failure with no complication occurred once in each group. Acute complications occurred in three patients in the PTCA group and in one in the RA group. Angiographic restenosis rates were similar (RA group: 39%, PTCA group: 42%, p = NS) with a follow-up rate of 93%. In type B2 lesions, when compared with conventional angioplasty, RA with systematic balloon angioplasty does not seem to increase procedural success, and the restenosis rate remains comparable. However, these results must be confirmed in a larger series of patients.

Rotational coronary atherectomy with adjunctive balloon angioplasty for the treatment of ostial lesions

Conventional balloon angioplasty (PTCA) of ostial lesions (OL) is associated with suboptimal results and a higher complication rate. Partial plaque ablation with rotational atherectomy (RA) before PTCA might improve results. This approach was used in 63 patients (pts) (mean age 64 +/- 10 yrs; 44 men, 19 women) with 69 OL. There were 15 aorto-OL and 54 branch-OL. Calcification was more frequent in aorto-OL than in branch-OL (67% vs. 35%, P < 0.05). Mean burr size was 1.8 +/- 0.3 mm. Burr-artery ratio was 0.74 +/- 0.10. Adjunctive PTCA was systematically performed. Procedural success was achieved in 58 pts (92%): 14 aorto-OL (93%) and 50 branch-OL (93%) were successfully treated; major complications occurred in 1 (7%) aorto-OL and 1 (2%) branch-OL. Uncomplicated failure occurred in three cases. Minimal lumen diameter (MLD) increased from 0.69 +/- 0.31 mm before RA to 1.43 +/- 0.28 mm after RA (P < 0.001) and 2.16 +/- 0.29 mm after PTCA (P < 0.001). Diameter stenosis (DS) decreased from 75 +/- 13% before RA to 32 +/- 12% after RA (P < 0.001) and 14 +/- 10% after PTCA (P < 0.001). All successfully treated pts underwent repeat angiography 24 h later and exercise testing or repeat cardiac catheterization > 6 mo later. At 24 h repeat angiography, DS was 17 +/- 15% (P = NS vs. after PTCA); no lesion had a DS > or = 50%. Follow-up coronary angiography was performed in 30 pts (52%) who had abnormal stress testing: 13 pts (43%) showed angiographic restenosis in at least one successfully treated OL. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Usefulness of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty after new device coronary interventions

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is often required immediately after laser and atherectomy devices to enlarge lumen dimensions and to salvage device failures. Between January 1989 and June 1992, adjunctive PTCA was applied to 83% of narrowings treated with new interventional devices, including 85% of transluminal extraction atherectomy (n = 290), 72% of high-speed mechanical rotational atherectomy (n = 79), and 89% of excimer laser angioplasty (n = 118) lesions (p = NS). Device success was defined as a decrease in diameter stenosis > or = 20%; procedural success was defined as a final diameter stenosis < or = 50% after PTCA; and salvage PTCA was defined as use of PTCA to manage device-induced vessel occlusion. Although adjunctive PTCA was applied to 487 lesions, it was used to further enlarge the lumen after initial device success in 139 lesions (28.5%). In contrast, adjunctive PTCA was used after initial device failure in 348 lesions (71.5%), including after minimal or no change (decrease in diameter stenosis by 0 to 19%) in diameter stenosis in 244 lesions (50%) and after worsening of diameter stenosis in 104 lesions (21.5%). Salvage PTCA after device-induced vessel occlusion was performed in 61 lesions (12.6%). However, final procedural success after PTCA was achieved in 412 lesions (85%), with a low incidence of Q-wave myocardial infarction (3.5%), emergency bypass surgery (1.8%) and death (2.3%).

Are residual stenoses after excimer laser angioplasty and coronary atherectomy due to inefficient or small devices? Comparison with balloon angioplasty

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to determine whether residual stenoses after excimer laser angioplasty and atherectomy were due to inefficient tissue ablation/removal or to undersized devices.

BACKGROUND

Significant residual stenoses are commonly observed after use of laser and atherectomy devices. It is not known whether these residual stenoses are due to inefficient or undersized devices.

METHODS

To determine the relative contribution of these factors, the minimal lumen diameter, percent diameter stenosis and normal reference diameter were measured immediately before and after coronary interventions in 696 lesions, including transluminal extraction atherectomy, high speed mechanical rotational atherectomy, excimer laser angioplasty and conventional balloon angioplasty. The ratio of the diameter of the device to the normal reference diameter (D/A, a measure of device sizing) and the ratio of the residual lumen diameter after use of the device to the device diameter (RLD/D, a measure of the efficiency of lumen enlargement) were calculated.

RESULTS

Baseline diameter stenoses were similar for all interventions. The percent diameter stenoses were greater immediately after extraction atherectomy (60 +/- 21%), rotational atherectomy (54 +/- 23%) and excimer laser angioplasty (61 +/- 18%) compared with balloon angioplasty (26 +/- 12%, p < 0.001). The D/A ratio was smaller after extraction atherectomy (0.63 +/- 0.14), rotational atherectomy (0.59 +/- 0.17) and excimer laser angioplasty (0.51 +/- 0.11) compared with balloon angioplasty (1.05 +/- 0.13, p < 0.001). The RLD/D ratio was similar after extraction atherectomy (0.73 +/- 0.24) and balloon angioplasty (0.71 +/- 0.11) but was greater after rotational atherectomy (0.92 +/- 0.16, p < 0.001) and excimer laser angioplasty (0.85 +/- 0.30, p < 0.01) compared with balloon angioplasty.

CONCLUSIONS

Residual stenoses after extraction atherectomy, rotational atherectomy and excimer laser angioplasty were more severe than after balloon angioplasty but were due to undersized devices (low D/A ratio), not to inefficient devices (low RLD/D ratio). Rotational atherectomy and excimer laser angioplasty were more efficient (higher RLD/D) than balloon angioplasty, whereas extraction atherectomy and balloon angioplasty were similar.