cheese-grater effect
Vessel wall trauma caused by repeated passage of devices through severely calcified or stenotic lesions.
Full Definition
The cheese-grater effect describes a specific pattern of vessel wall trauma that occurs during percutaneous coronary intervention when devices are repeatedly passed through severely calcified, fibrotic, or stenotic lesions. The term vividly captures how the rough, irregular surface of heavily diseased vessel segments can cause mechanical trauma to device surfaces and potentially damage the vessel wall itself. This phenomenon is particularly concerning with balloon catheters, where repeated inflations through calcified lesions can cause balloon surface damage, affecting drug delivery in drug-eluting balloons. Recognition of this effect influences decisions regarding lesion preparation with rotational atherectomy or other debulking techniques before balloon angioplasty.
Usage
Usage note: Hyphenate as compound noun; descriptive term for mechanical trauma, not official medical terminology.
In Context
- "The heavily calcified lesion created a cheese-grater effect on balloon surfaces during inflation." — Procedural complication note
- "Pre-treatment with rotational atherectomy prevented the cheese-grater effect in this calcified stenosis." — Technique description