Tips & tricks of rota-ablation

Introduction

Atherectomy devices were developed as a mechanism of physically removing plaque from the lesion itself. The first two devices invented were the directional atherectomy device and the transluminal extraction catheter (TEC). In the early 1980’s David Auth investigated the use of a rotational device as a mechanical alternative in debulking atherosclerotic plaque. 11. Ahn S.S., Auth D., Marcus D.R., Moore W.S. Removal of focal atheromatous lesions by angioscopically guided high-speed rotary atherectomy. Preliminary experimental observations. J Vasc Surg 1988;7: 292-300. Link The first studies were performed in canine arteries, followed in January 1988 in human coronary arteries. 22. Hansen D.D., Auth D.C., Hall M., Ritchie J.L. Rotational endarterectomy in normal canine coronary arteries: preliminary report. J Am Coll Cardiol 1988;11:1073-7. Link This rotational atherectomy system, known as Rotablator® was commercialised by Heart Technology, received FDA approval in 1990 for use in peripheral arteries, and in 1993 for coronary arteries. It was subsequently acquired by Boston Scientific (Natick, MA, USA) in 1996, who continue to market and support the product worldwide.

Principles of rotational atherectomy

The Rotablator rotational atherectomy system was developed according to two principles. Firstly, the device preferentially ablates hard calcific atherosclerotic plaque...