Atherectomy vs. Stenting

How does atherectomy compare to stenting in effectiveness and risk?

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Current Postings on This Page (2):

• Miflotzet in London -- It's not so much a question of atherectomy versus stenting, because these days, a stent is normally used after atherectomy is done. The idea with atherectomy is to remove the bulk of tissue that is causing the blockage. The RotaBlator is a unique type of atherectomy device, optimized to remove hard calcium -- it can literally shave off the shell of an egg without tearing the thin membrane holding the yolk! Once the "offending" tissue is removed, a stent can be implanted and will conform to the arterial wall more easily, since much of the bulky tissue is gone. There have been mixed results for atherectomy which was utilized more, by the way, in the days before stents. The "Silver Hawk" is basically an adaptation of the coronary atherectomy device, the AtheroCath, invented by John Simpson and marketed by Guidant starting in the late 80s. But it was improved and optimized for work in the leg arteries only. It's not "new", however, having been around almost a decade. In fact, we wrote about it six years ago. The results also are mixed. For peripheral (leg) closures, the latest device that has shown undeniably good results is the Zilver drug-coated stent, made by Cook.
Angioplasty.Org Staff, Angioplasty.Org, February 10, 2011

• How does atherectomy compare to stenting in effectiveness and risk? What makes the cardiologist decide to use one over the other? Are are all interventionists trained to use the Rotablator/laser to trim away plaque? What are the reports on the new "Silver Hawk" which shaves the plaque, captures the shavings in a nosecone and then withdraws it out of the body? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atherectomy
Miflotzet, London, England, February 10, 2011

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