Atherectomy

Orbital Atherectomy is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat heavily calcified blockages in the coronary arteries. It helps prepare the artery for stenting by removing tough, hardened plaque that cannot be treated effectively with balloons or stents alone.

The procedure uses a device with a small, diamond-coated crown that spins in an eccentric (off-center) orbit. As the crown moves forward slowly (1–5 mm/sec), it gently sands away calcium from the artery walls. This orbiting action also allows for plaque removal in both forward (antegrade) and backward (retrograde) directions, making it especially effective near vessel openings (ostia).

Only one crown size is used, but the device can operate at two different speeds to treat arteries of varying diameters.

Consult your cardiologist to understand if orbital atherectomy is the right option for your condition and to discuss its potential benefits and risks.

Rotational Atherectomy is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat severely calcified coronary artery blockages that are resistant to standard balloon angioplasty. It helps prepare the artery for successful stenting by removing hard plaque that limits balloon expansion or stent delivery.

The procedure uses a small, diamond-coated burr mounted on a rotating shaft. The burr spins at very high speeds (up to 200,000 rpm) and gently grinds away calcium from the artery walls. This process is known as differential cutting, as it selectively removes hard tissue while preserving the softer, healthy vessel wall.

Rotational atherectomy is especially useful in tight or heavily calcified lesions, where proper stent expansion is otherwise not possible. Short, slow passes, also called “pecking” motions, are used to reduce the risk of vessel damage or complications.

Consult your cardiologist to determine if rotational atherectomy is appropriate for your condition and to understand its risks and benefits.