Atherectomy

Atherectomy is a method to remove stubborn, recurring narrowing by deposits in arteries that occur as part of atherosclerosis . A special atherectomy catheter is used to remove the firmly adhering occlusion material.

Atherectomy catheters are offered in a variety of configurations. What they all have in common is the physical removal of the deposit. Some allow the detached material to float away in the bloodstream, which may require additional measures such as the placement of a filter. Others temporarily store the peeled material in a chamber that has to be emptied after a few operations. Still others loosen the deposit, suck in the removed material, shred it and continuously transport it to the outside via the catheter.

Advantages of atherectomy using such catheters are the minimal invasiveness of the procedure, which is usually performed by puncturing the groin and inserting the catheter through a lock using the Seldinger technique , as well as the rapid restoration of blood flow in constricted or even closed vessel segments. The latter applies in particular when atherothrombectomy catheters are used, which remove both blood clots and vascular wall deposits in one operation. The complete or partial removal of the vascular overlay is also sufficient for possible additive procedures such as balloon dilatation and / or stenting , since the vascular wall does not have to be overstretched as much due to the material removal and thus fewer complications and recurrences occur.

Individual evidence

• Springer Clinical Dictionary 2007/2008, ISBN 978-3-540-34601-2 , 1st edition Springer Medizin Verlag Heidelberg

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