rotational atherectomy
Coronary plaque modification technique using high-speed rotating diamond-coated burr to ablate calcified atherosclerotic material before stent deployment.
Full Definition
Rotational atherectomy represents a specialized coronary intervention technique employing a high-speed rotating burr with diamond-coated surface to selectively ablate calcified atherosclerotic plaque, creating a smooth, compliant vessel surface suitable for subsequent balloon dilation and stent deployment. The system operates at speeds of 140,000-180,000 rpm, generating microscopic debris that is safely cleared by the coronary circulation. This technique proves particularly valuable for heavily calcified lesions that resist conventional balloon angioplasty, undilatable stenoses, and ostial lesions requiring precise plaque modification. Rotational atherectomy requires specific training, careful patient selection, and meticulous technique to avoid complications such as slow-flow phenomena, vessel perforation, or burr entrapment. The procedure typically precedes stent placement rather than serving as definitive treatment.
Usage
Usage note: Often colloquially called 'rota' or 'rotablator'; hyphenate the full term.
In Context
- "Rotational atherectomy was employed to modify the heavily calcified LAD lesion before stent deployment." — Complex intervention report
- "The operator performed rotational atherectomy with a 1.5 mm burr followed by conventional balloon angioplasty." — Procedural technique description