An atherectomy is a procedure to remove plaque from an artery. Plaque is a buildup of fats and cholesterol that blocks blood flow through an artery. This buildup is also called an atheroma. Atherectomy uses a shaver to cut the atheroma away and remove it.
This procedure is most often used to open coronary arteries that are partly blocked. The coronary arteries are the blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients to the heart. Directional coronary atherectomy is one of the ways to open a blocked coronary artery without opening the chest. This procedure takes out most of the blockage in the artery and allows more blood flow to the heart muscle.
Examples of alternatives to this surgery are:
If you need a minor pain reliever in the week before surgery, choose acetaminophen rather than aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen. This helps avoid extra bleeding during surgery. If you are taking daily aspirin for a medical condition, ask your provider if you need to stop taking it before your surgery.
Follow the instructions your healthcare provider gives you. Eat a light meal the night before the procedure. You may be asked not to eat or drink anything for 12 hours before the procedure.
You will be given medicine to help you relax and a local anesthetic to numb the place where the catheter will be inserted. You will stay awake during the procedure. The atherectomy catheter, which is a small tube with a balloon on the end, is put into an artery in your groin.
Using X-rays, the tip of the catheter is guided to the atheroma. The balloon is blown up, which brings part of the atheroma close to an opening near the tip of the catheter. A tool in the catheter is used to shave small parts of the atheroma from the blockage. The bits of shaved atheroma are stored in the tip of the catheter and the catheter is taken out.
Sometimes you may feel chest discomfort during the procedure, but there is usually very little pain.
You must stay in the hospital for a short time after the procedure. If there are no problems, you can go home within a day or two.
For a week after the procedure, don't do any heavy lifting or hard physical exercise. Then you can go back to normal activity.
You will take aspirin to reduce the chances of the artery becoming blocked again.
Atherectomy opens blocked heart arteries without major surgery. The procedure sometimes opens an artery better than balloon angioplasty.
There is risk with every treatment or procedure. Talk to your provider for complete information about how the risks apply to you.
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