Atherectomy Procedures
An atherectomy is a minimally invasive medical procedure used to remove fatty plaque buildup from inside narrowed or blocked arteries. Unlike an angioplasty which presses plaque against the artery wall, an atherectomy physically cuts, shaves, grinds, or vaporizes the blockage away to restore healthy blood flow.
What Types of of Atherectomies Are There?
Directional Atherectomy
Shaves and collects plaque using a tiny rotating side-cutter blade.
Rotational Atherectomy
Grinds hard, calcified plaque away using a high-speed rotating burr.
Orbital Atherectomy
Sands down calcium deposits using an orbiting diamond-coated crown.
Laser Atherectomy
Vaporizes soft and fibrous blockages using light energy.
What are Atherectomy Procedures For?
Clear Tough Hardened or Calcified Plague
Clear hardened or calcified plaque that is too tough for standard angioplasty.
Treating PAD
Treat peripheral artery disease (PAD) to stop painful leg cramps and poor circulation.
Clearing Blockage
Clear blockages in coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle.
Opening Complex Vessels
Open complex vessel blockages where a stent alone might fail or close back up
What are the Benefits of Atherectomy Procedures
How it differs from angioplasty/stenting
Removes plaque instead of compressing it: Uses a rotating blade, laser, or grinding device to shave away or vaporize plaque and extract it from the artery, rather than pushing it against the vessel wall
Useful for heavily calcified or hardened plaque: Particularly effective in arteries where plaque is too hard or dense for a balloon to compress effectively
Clinical benefits
Restores blood flow: Clears the artery to improve circulation, similar goal to angioplasty but through a different mechanism
Prepares the vessel for other treatments: Often used before angioplasty or stent placement to debulk plaque first, making those subsequent treatments more effective
May reduce need for stents: In some cases, particularly in peripheral arteries (like the legs), removing plaque can restore adequate flow without requiring a permanent stent — useful in areas where stents don't perform as well (e.g., joints that flex, like behind the knee)
Effective for peripheral artery disease (PAD): Frequently used in leg arteries where calcified, long, or complex blockages are common
Can treat lesions that are difficult for other methods: Particularly useful for heavily calcified lesions, in-stent restenosis (blockage that forms inside a previous stent), or areas where stents are less ideal
Procedural advantages
Minimally invasive: Performed via catheter, typically through the wrist or groin — no open surgery
Often combined with imaging guidance: Some atherectomy systems include imaging capability (like optical coherence tomography) to help the physician see plaque characteristics in real time and guide precise removal
Same-day or short hospital stay: Recovery is generally faster than surgical alternatives
Local anesthesia: General anesthesia is usually not required
Are You a Candidate for Atherectomy Procedures?
Diagnosed Disease
Confirmed atherosclerosis, PAD in the legs/arms, or CAD affecting blood flow to the heart.
Unrelenting Symptoms
Leg cramping or pain while walking (claudication), chest pain (angina), or shortness of breath that limits daily life.
Critical Issues
Non-healing foot or leg wounds, ulcers, or pain even while resting
