Coronary Atherectomy

What is Atherectomy?

Atherectomy is a procedure used to remove obstructive plaque (blockage) from arteries.  Plaque is the buildup of fat, cholesterol and other substances in the inner lining of an artery.  Coronary Atherectomy is a catheter-based procedure used to treat coronary artery disease (CAD).  During this procedure, plaque is removed from the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle. 

How is this procedure performed?

This procedure usually takes place in a cardiac catheterization laboratory.  During this procedure the physician will insert a catheter usually through the groin, sometimes the wrist or arm, that is equipped with special devices used to remove the fatty plaque inside the blocked arteries.  The physician guides the catheter through the blood vessel to the heart.  Once in place, a sharp instrument or a rotating device attached to the end of the catheter is used to cut away the plaque.  In some cases the little pieces are collected in the nose tip of the catheter and removed.  The more recent and advanced techniques use a high-speed tip that breaks up the plaque into microscopic particles that dissolves in the circulating blood.

Following the procedure, the catheter is removed and the patient is allowed to take about 24 hours to recover before returning home.