A prospective study on the safety and efficacy of excimer laser coronary angioplasty for the treatment of degenerated great saphenous vein graft / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective: To explore the safety and efficacy of excimer laser coronary angioplasty (ELCA) for the treatment of degenerated great saphenous vein graft (SVG). Methods: This is a single-center, prospective, single-arm study. Patients, who were admitted to the Geriatric Cardiovascular Center of Beijing Anzhen Hospital from January 2022 to June 2022, were consecutively enrolled. Inclusion criteria were recurrent chest pain after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG), and coronary angiography confirmed that the SVG stenosis was more than 70% but not completely occluded, and interventional treatment for SVG lesions was planned. Before balloon dilation and stent placement, ELCA was used to pretreat the lesions. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) examination was performed and postoperative index of microcirculation resistance (IMR) were assessed after stent implantation. The technique success rate and operation success rate were calculated. The technique success was defined as the successful passage of the ELCA system through the lesion. Operation success was defined as the successful placement of a stent at the lesion. The primary evaluation index of the study was IMR immediately after PCI. Secondary evaluation indexes included thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow grade, corrected TIMI frame count (cTFC), minimal stent area and stent expansion measured by OCT after PCI, and procedural complications (Ⅳa myocardial infarction, no reflow, perforation). Results: A total of 19 patients aged (66.0±5.6) years were enrolled, including 18 males (94.7%). The age of SVG was 8 (6, 11) years. The length of the lesions was greater than 20 mm, and they were all SVG body lesions. The median stenosis degree was 95% (80%, 99%), and the length of the implanted stent was (41.7±16.3)mm. The operation time was 119 (101, 166) minutes, and the cumulative dose was 2 089 (1 378, 3 011)mGy. The diameter of the laser catheter was 1.4 mm, the maximum energy was 60 mJ, and the maximum frequency was 40 Hz. The technique success and the operation success rate were both 100% (19/19). The IMR after stent implantation was 29.22±5.95. The TIMI flow grade of patients after ELCA and stent implantation was significantly improved (all P>0.05), and the TIMI flow grade of all patients after stent implantation was Grade Ⅲ. The cTFC decreased significantly after ELCA (33.2±7.8) and after stent placement (22.8±7.1) than preoperative level (49.7±13.0) (both P<0.001). The minimum stent area was (5.53±1.36)mm2, and the stent expansion rate was (90.0±4.3)%. Perforation, no reflow, type Ⅳa myocardial infarction and other complications were not observed. However, postoperative high-sensitivity troponin level was significantly increased ((67.937±33.839)ng/L vs. (5.316±3.105)ng/L, P<0.001). Conclusion: ELCA is safe and effective in the treatment of SVG lesions and could improve microcirculation and ensure full expansion of stent.

Uso de la litotripsia intracoronaria en el manejo de lesiones calcificadas: reporte de dos casos / Lithoplasty for calcified coronary artery lesiones

Recently, intravascular lithoplasty (IVL) has been introduced as a novel technique for treating calcified intracoronary artery lesions. There are no reports of this intervention in Latin America. We report 2 cases in which IVL was successfully used to treat this type of coronary artery lesions.

Emergent Percutaneous Rotational Atherectomy to Bailout Surgical Transapical Aortic Valve Implantation: A Successful Case of Heart Team Turnaround / Aterectomia Rotacional Percutânea Emergencial para Dar Suporte ao Implante Cirúrgico Transapical da Válvula Aórtica: Um Caso Bem Sucedido de Reviravolta da Equipe Cardíaca

Abstract Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an established treatment for severe aortic stenosis (AS) in patients with elevated surgical risk. Concomitant coronary artery disease affects 55-70% of patients with severe AS. Percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with TAVI can be challenging. We report a case of acute coronary obstruction immediately following transapical TAVI deployment requiring emergent rotational atherectomy.

Resumo O implante valvar aórtico transcateter (TAVI) é um tratamento estabelecido para estenose aórtica grave (EA) em pacientes com risco cirúrgico elevado. Doença arterial coronariana concomitante afeta 55-70% dos pacientes com EA grave. A intervenção coronária percutânea em pacientes com TAVI pode ser um desafio. Relatamos um caso de obstrução coronariana aguda imediatamente após o implante de TAVI transapical, exigindo aterectomia rotacional emergencial.

Aterectomia rotacional multiarterial em lesão de tronco de coronária esquerda seguida de implante de stents / Multivessel rotational atherectomy in left main coronary artery lesion followed by stent implantation

Paciente com 82 anos, portadora de múltiplas comorbidades, com angina do peito apesar de terapia medicamentosa otimizada. Submetida à coronariografia, que evidenciou doença triarterial com envolvimento do tronco da coronária esquerda e intensa calcificação das artérias coronárias. A cirurgia de revascularização miocárdica foi contraindicada, sendo encaminhada para intervenção coronária percutânea, realizada em dois tempos, com intervalo de 15 meses. Primeiramente, a coronária esquerda foi abordada, realizando-se aterectomia rotacional no tronco da coronária esquerda, artérias descendente anterior e circunflexa, com implante de cinco stents farmacológicos com sucesso. Posteriormente, a coronária direita foi tratada com aterectomia rotacional e implante de quatro stents farmacológicos, também com sucesso

A 82-year-old patient with multiple comorbidities and angina, in spite of optimal drug therapy, was submitted to coronary angiography, which showed three-vessel disease with left main coronary artery involvement and severe coronary artery calcification. Coronary artery bypass grafting surgery was contraindicated and the patient was referred for percutaneous coronary intervention, which was carried out in two stages, with a 15-month interval between them. Firstly, the left coronary artery was treated and rotational atherectomy was performed in the left main coronary artery, left anterior descending and left circumflex arteries, with successful implantation of five drug-eluting stents. Subsequently, the right coronary artery was treated with rotational atherectomy, and four drug-eluting stents were also successfully implanted

Aterectomia rotacional em artérias com calcificação extrema ou falha em dilatação prévia: aspectos técnicos e evolução tardia após intervenção coronária percutânea / Rotational atherectomy in arteries with extreme calcification or previous failed dilation: technical aspects and late outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention

A aterectomia rotacional com incorporação de novas estratégias ablativas tem sido proposta para o preparo de lesões extremamente calcificadas. Entretanto, pouco se conhece a respeito da adoçãodessas novas estratégias na prática contemporânea e sobre a evolução tardia dos pacientes submetidos aesse tratamento. Objetivamos avaliar os aspectos técnicos da aterectomia e a evolução tardia dos pacientesquanto à ocorrência de eventos cardiovasculares adversos maiores (ECAM). Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo e unicêntrico, incluindo todos os pacientes submetidos à aterectomiarotacional como parte do tratamento de lesões coronárias com calcificação extrema ou falha de dilataçãoem procedimento prévio, no período de julho de 2012 a novembro de 2014. Foram definidos como ECAM: óbito, infarto agudo do miocárdio com onda Q ou nova revascularização do vaso-alvo.Resultados: Foram submetidos à aterectomia 29 pacientes com idade média de 69,5 ± 7,6 anos. A médiada relação oliva/vaso foi de 0,54 ± 0,07; a velocidade de rotação inicial adotada foi de 161.000 ± 13.928 e a taxa de utilização de cutting balloon pós-aterectomia foi de 45,1%. Sucesso angiográfico foi obtido em todos os procedimentos. Na evolução tardia, a mediana de tempo de seguimento foi de 13,2 meses (intervalo interquartil: 4,0 a 17,4 meses). Foram registrados um óbito por causa não cardíaca e duas novas revascularizações do vaso-alvo. A média do tempo de sobrevivência livre de ECAM foi de 29,7 ± 2,1 meses.Conclusões: A aterectomia rotacional contemporânea incorporou estratégias menos agressivas de ablação,com elevada taxa de sucesso imediato e baixa ocorrência de ECAM na evolução tardia...

Rotational atherectomy with new ablative strategies have been proposed for the treatment of extremely calcified lesions prior to stent implantation. Nevertheless, few data are available about the adoption of these new strategies in contemporary practice and about late outcomes of patients undergoing this therapy. Methods: From July 2012 to November 2014, a retrospective single center registry was conducted, including all patients undergoing rotational atherectomy as part of the treatment of coronary arteries with heavy calcification or previous failed dilation. We evaluated technical aspects of atherectomy and late outcomes of patients for the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as death, Q-wave myocardial infarction or repeat target vessel revascularization.Results: Twenty-nine patients with a mean age of 69.5 ± 7.6 years, underwent atherectomy. The averageburr-to-artery ratio was 0.54 ± 0.07, the initial rotational speed was 161.000 ± 13.928 and the rate of cuttingballoon utilization after atherectomy was 45.1%. Angiographic success was achieved in all procedures. The median follow-up time was 13.2 months (IQ: 4.0-17.4) and there were three events: 1 death of non cardiac cause and 2 new target vessel revascularizations. The mean MACE-free survival time was 29.7 ± 2.1 months. Conclusions: Contemporary rotational atherectomy incorporates less aggressive strategies of ablation with high rates of acute success and low occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events during late follow-up...

Identificação de genes envolvidos na síntese de proteínas de células musculares lisas com expressão aumentada em placas ateromatosas associados a hiperplasia neointimal após implante de stents não-farmacológicos: estudo GENESIS-R / Identification of genes involved in smooth muscle cell protein synthesis with increased expression in atheromathous plaques associated to neointim al hyperplasia after bare-metal stenting: GENESISI-R Study

Introdução: A reestenose coronária é um fenômeno pouco compreendidoe que permanece como um desafio mesmo na era dos stents farmacológicos. Este estudo tem como objetivo identificar genes envolvidos na síntese de proteínas estruturais e funcionais de células musculares lisas com expressão aumentada em placas ateromatosas de humanos associadosa hiperplasia neointimal após o implante de stents não-farmacológicos. Métodos: Placas ateromatosas foram obtidasmediante aterectomia direcionada, previamente ao implante do stent. A análise da expressão dos genes foi realizada utilizando-se o sistema Affymetrix GeneChip. Os pacientes foramsubmetidos a ultrassom intracoronário 6 meses após o procedimento para análise volumétrica intrastent. Foi avaliada a correlação entre a expressão gênica de placas ateromatosas e o porcentual de hiperplasia intimal intrastent. Resultados: A maioria dos pacientes era do sexo masculino (85,7%), com60,2 ± 11,4 anos de idade, 35,7% eram diabéticos e o porcentual de hiperplasia intimal intrastent foi de 29,9 ± 18,7%.Não houve variação do porcentual de hiperplasia intimal intrastent entre os pacientes com ou sem diabetes (29,5% vs. 30,7%; P = 0,89). Não houve correlação entre a extensão do stent e o porcentual de hiperplasia intimal intrastent (r = -0,26; P = 0,26) ou entre o diâmetro do stent e o porcentual dehiperplasia intimal intrastent (r = 0,14; P = 0,56). Oito genes envolvidos na síntese de proteínas estruturais e funcionais de células musculares lisas apresentaram correlação positiva como porcentual de hiperplasia intimal intrastent. Conclusões: As lesões coronárias de novo apresentam expressão aumentada de genes relacionados com a síntese de proteínas estruturais e funcionais de células musculares lisas associados a futurahiperplasia neointimal intrastent significativa, surgindo como novos alvos terapêuticos.

Persistência de distúrbios perfusionais miocárdicos após intervenção coronária percutânea com êxito: dependência de fatores microcirculatórios / Myocardial perfusion disturbances persisting after successful percutaneous coronary angioplasty: relationship to microcirculatory derangements

Introdução: A persistência transitória de defeitos perfusionais imediatamente após intervenção coronária percutânea bem sucedida para correção de estenoses coronárias é bem documentada. Método: Para testar a hipótese de que tais anormalidades perfusionais sejam associadas a distúrbios microcirculatórios causados por microembolização coronária, comparou-se a intensidade e extensão desses defeitos perfusionais detectados com cintilografia miocárdica em grupos randomicamente constituídos de pacientes tratados com angioplastia coronária por balão (AB) ou submetidos a aterectomia rotacional complementada por balão (AR + B). As características clínicas e angiográficas foram comparáveis nos dois grupos, assim como o sucesso do procedimento de angioplastia coronária. Resultados: Antes da intervenção coronária percutânea, o índice de defeito miocárdico, englobando a extensão e a gravidade da hipoperfusão, foi comparável nos dois grupos, na condição de estresse (AB = 7,72±1,91 vs AR + B = 8,61±3,38) e de repouso (AB = 3,11±1,22 vs AR + B = 2,40±1,63). Após o procedimento, o índice de defeito perfusional decresceu em ambos os grupos durante o estresse, mas com significância estatística apenas no grupo AB = 3,96±1,40 vs AR + B = 3,71 ±1,89. O contraste entre os dois grupos se acentuou na condição de repouso após a intervenção coronária: o índice de defeito decresceu de forma marginalmente significante no grupo AB para 1,46±0,66 e aumentou, embora sem significância estatística, no grupo AR + B, para 3,47±1,92. Conclusão: Esses resultados são compatíveis com o conceito de que a persistência transitória de defeitos perfusionais após angioplastia coronária bem sucedida seja dependente de distúrbios microcirculatórios associados à microembolização durante o procedimento.

Introduction: The transitory persistence of perfusion defects immediately after successful percutaneous coronary interventions to correct coronary stenosis is well known. Methods: To test the hypothesis that such perfusion abnormalities are associated with microcirculatory disorders caused by coronary microembolization we compared the intensity and extent of these perfusion defects detected using myocardial scintigraphy in groups of patients randomly assigned to coronary balloon angioplasty (BA) or to rotational atherectomy plus balloon angioplasty (RA + B). The clinical and angiography characteristics were comparable in both groups, as well as the successof the coronary angioplasty procedure. Results: Before the percutaneous coronary intervention the myocardium defect index, related to the extent and severity of hypoperfusion, was comparable for the two groups, both under stress (AB =7.72±1.91 vs. RA + B = 8.61±3.38) and at rest (AB = 3.11±1.22vs. RA + B = 2.40±1.63). After the procedure, the perfusion defect index decreased for both groups during stress, but with statistical significance only in the AB Group = 3.96±1.40 vs. RA + B = 3.71±1.89. The difference between the two groups was greater at rest after the coronary intervention procedure: the defect index decreased with marginal significance for the AB Group to 1.46±0.66 and increased, though without statistical significance, for the RA + B Group to 3.47±1.92. Conclusion: These results are compatible with the notion that transitory persistence of perfusion defects after successful coronary angioplasty are dependent on microcirculatory disorders associated to microembolization during the procedure

Aterectomía coronaria: rol actual / Endovascular coronary atherectomy: present role

La aterectomía coronaria endovascular representa a un conjunto de técnicas de remoción de placa que fueron altamente utilizadas durante la angioplastia previo a la introducción de stents. En esa época, aunque comparadas con la angioplastia con balón no ofrecían beneficio en cuanto a la incidencia de reestenosis, permitían un procedimiento más seguro que el tratamiento de las lesiones complejas. Sin embargo, posterior al advenimiento de los stents su uso se restringió a situaciones exepcionales. En los últimos años nuevamente se plantea un rol de la aterectomía para ser usada previa al implante de los stents, con el propósito de disminuir la incidencia de reestenosis. Los resultados de los estudios preliminares hasta ahora disponibles sugieren que si bien esta tecnología puede no ser necesaria en la mayoría de los casos, frente a la dilatación de placas seleccionadas que tienen una conocida mayor incidencia de reestenosis, podría ser útil la aterectomía previa al implante de los stents

High speed rotational atherectomy for diffuse in-stent restenosis: short- and mid-term follow-up results.

Between January 1997 to May 1998, 37 consecutive patients underwent high speed rotational atherectomy with adjunctive balloon angioplasty for the management of first-time diffuse variety of in-stent restenosis in the native coronary arteries. Their age ranged from 38 to 71 years (mean 54.3 +/- 9.7 years). All the patients underwent initial stent implantation at moderate to high pressure. Patients were either symptomatic or demonstrated significant ischaemia by non-invasive testing. The median time from the index procedure to in-stent restenosis was 20 weeks (range 9-40 weeks). Majority (78.1%) of lesions were in the territory of left anterior descending coronary artery. The mean lesion length was 24.3 +/- 8.3 mm (range 12-42 mm). Five lesions each (12.2%) were total occlusion and ostial in location. High speed rotational atherectomy was performed using stepped burr technique in majority (90.2%) with the largest burr corresponding to approximately 70 percent of the reference vessel diameter. The initial burr size ranged from 1.5-2.0 mm, final burr was 1.75-2.25 mm and the average number of burrs used per target vessel was 2.2 +/- 0.3 (range 1-3). Adjunctive balloon angioplasty was performed in all (100%) cases using a semi-compliant oversized balloon (balloon-to-artery ratio 1.1:1) inflated at a pressure of 6.5 +/- 2.1 atmospheres (range 4-10). The procedure was successful in all cases without any major complications (death, Q-MI, CABG or repeat PTCA). Over a median follow-up of 10 months, 27 (73%) patients were asymptomatic. Recurrence of clinical events occurred in 10 (27%) patients at median interval of 16 weeks after rotational atherectomy. Angina was controlled on drug therapy in six (16.2%) and target vessel revascularisation was required in three (8.1%) cases. By the Kaplan-Meier estimate, an event-free survival (absence of death, Q-MI, recurrence of angina, target vessel revascularisation) was 97.3, 94.6, 75.7 and 72.6 percent at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months, respectively. Thus, rotational atherectomy using a stepped burr approach for adequate debulking, followed by adjunctive balloon angioplasty is safe with excellent in-hospital results for the treatment of diffuse in-stent restenosis. Although recurrence of symptoms develops in approximately one-fourth of patients on follow-up, it is much less than reported with balloon angioplasty in this subgroup of patients.

Aterectomía rotacional (rotablator) en la angioplastía coronaria percutánea transluminal / Rotational atherectomy (rotablator) for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

Background: The use of Rotablator in percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty attempts to reduce the atheromatous plaque abrading it and fragmenting the pariental calcium of the artery. Aim: To report our experience with the use of Rotablator: Patients and methods: Rotational atherectomy was performed in 189 patients aged 60.8 ñ 11 years (154 men). The clinical indication for the procedure was chronic angina in 22 percent, unstable angina in 44 por ciento, myocardial infarction in 21 percent, silent angina in 7 percent and re-stenosis in 6 percent. One bundred seventy seven patiens were followed for a mean of 15.9 ñ 6.3 months. Results: Two hundred thirty six stenoses in 215 coronary arteries were treated with a 98.7 percent angiographic success rate. One patient had a Q infarction and no patient died or required emergency surgery. Fourteen patients had rises in CK MB enzymes (non Q infarction). Thee patients had a pseudoaneurism and three had bleedings that required transfusion. Of the followed patients, 33 had a clinically suspected re-stenosis, that was angiographically confirmed in 23. Cardiac mortality was 2.3 percent. Seventy nine percent of patients had an evolution without angina or coronary events. Conclusions: Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty with the use of Rotablator had a high immediate success rate and a low incidence of complications. The clinical evolution of patients has been favorable with a low incidence of mortality and ischemic events

Influência do quadro clínico nos resultados imediatos e tardios após aterectomia rotacional / Influence of the Clinical Presentation in Acute and Long-Term Results After Rotational Atherectomy

PURPOSE: To analyse the influence of unstable coronary syndromes (UCS) in the early and late prognosis after rotational atherectomy (RA). METHODS: We treated 236 patients with RA between Aug/1992 and May/1996. Patients were divided into two groups: A) stable coronary syndromes 120 (51) patients; B) UCS: 116 (49) patients. Definitions: 1) procedure success (PS)--lesion success in all locations were RA use was attempted, without a major complication; 2) late coronary events (LCE)--angina, MI, additional revascularization or death. RESULTS: There was a significant predominance of age > 70 (A = 14x B = 24, p = 0.03) in B and previous MI (A = 32x B = 11, p = 0.0001) in A. Other characteristics were similar in both groups, including complex lesions (type B2/C), which were observed in 77A stenosis and 80B lesions. PS was 95in A and 92in B (p = NS). In-hospital major complications were observed in 2.5A and 4.3B patients, (p = NS). One patient died in each group. A and B patients had similar time of follow-up. LCE occurred in 25A and 39B patients (p = 0.002). Recurrence of angina (36x 23; p = 0.01) and target lesion revascularization (29x 18; p = 0.03) were also more frequently required in B cases. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that UCS (group A) does not implicate in worse acute results after RA. However, UCS patients present greater incidence of late coronary events, particularly recurrence of angina and target-lesion revascularization.

Procedural outcome and follow-up results of balloon angioplasty versus new device interventions for treatment of true bifurcation stenoses.

Strategies for dilatation of bifurcation stenoses have continued to evolve over the past several years. However, there is limited experience on the efficacy of various nonballoon interventional devices and their results in comparison with balloon angioplasty. We, therefore, analysed our data in 72 patients of coronary artery disease with true bifurcation stenoses with balloon angioplasty or new device interventions (NDI). All patients underwent dilatation of both the primary vessel and side branch ostial stenosis. Balloon angioplasty using double guidewire with sequential or simultaneous (kissing balloon) balloon inflation in the two vessels was performed in 42 patients. Thirty patients underwent NDI, using directional coronary atherectomy (DCA) in 12, rotablation in 6 and elective coronary stents in 12 patients. There were no significant differences in the baseline clinical and angiographic variables between patients in the two groups. While the preprocedural luminal diameter stenosis was similar, the residual stenosis was significantly less, both in the primary vessel and side branch, after NDI compared to balloon angioplasty. The procedure was successful in 96.6 percent patients treated with NDI and 83.3 percent with balloon angioplasty (p < 0.01) with relief of obstruction in both branches without any major complications. Freedom from subsequent coronary events in the form of angina, myocardial infarction, PTCA, bypass graft surgery of death was significantly more, both at 6 months (92% versus 65.6%, p < 0.001) and 12 months (81.8% versus 53.1%, p < 0.001) in the group of patients treated with NDI compared to balloon angioplasty. It is, therefore, concluded that NDI including DCA, rotablation and elective stenting are associated with higher rate of success, lesser complications and better event-free survival in comparison to balloon angioplasty for treatment of true bifurcation stenoses.

Resultados intrahospitalarios y del seguimiento en pacientes tratados con aterectomía coronaria direccional / Directional intracoronary atherectomy in hospital and follow-up results

La aterectomía coronaria direccional demostró su utilidad en ciertos tipos de obstrucciones complejas. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar los resultados y seguimiento de los pacientes tratados con aterectomía coronaria direccional. Se trataron 223 pacientes. Se analizaron como eventos mayores: muerte,infarto de miocardio y necesidad de nueva revascularización. El éxito del procedimiento fue 95,1 por ciento. La incidencia de complicaciones fue 4,9 por ciento. La sobrevida libre de infarto agudo de miocardio y nueva revascularización fue 76 ñ 3,4 por ciento a 33 meses. Se concluye que la aterectomía coronaria direccional es una técnica con alto porcentaje de éxitos y baja incidencia de complicaciones. En el seguimiento se observa baja tasa de eventos mayores o necesidad de nueva revascularización

Directional atherectomy for the dilatation of bifurcation stenoses in the coronary arteries.

Although bifurcation lesions in the coronary arteries can be dilated with balloon angioplasty, directional atherectomy is emerging as the treatment of choice in patients with large arteries. In this study, we report the immediate results and acute complications of treating bifurcation lesions in the coronary arteries with directional atherectomy in 9 patients, ranging in age from 33 to 60 (mean 56.7 +/- 10.8) years. All patients had true bifurcation stenoses with luminal diameter narrowing of more than 70 percent in both the primary vessel and the side branch. The lesions involved the left anterior descending (LAD)-diagonal system in 5, left circumflex (LCx)-obtuse marginal (OM) in 2, distal right coronary artery (RCA) in 1 and bifurcation of a large first diagonal branch in one patient. Double-wire atherectomy technique was used in 4 patients, although 7 had an additional wire in the side branch during post-atherectomy balloon angioplasty. The procedure was successful in all patients (100%), with luminal diameter stenosis decreasing from 93 +/- 7.5 percent to 6 +/- 8.6 percent in the primary vessel and from 83 +/- 9.2 percent to 13 +/- 9 percent in the side branch. There were no major complications. Minor complications included non-flow limiting dissection in 4 patients, distal migration of thrombus in one, occlusion of 2 small distal branches of the diagonal in one and entwinement of the guidewires in one. In conclusion, directional atherectomy can be performed safely and successfully for dilatation of complex bifurcation lesions in the coronary arteries without any major complications using the double-wire or sequential atherectomy technique.

Aterectomia coronária direcional: experiência inicial / Directional coronary atherectomy: the initial experience

Four male patients, 38 to 59 years-old (mean 49 ± 2.5), with angina and the angiographic features has been the classical indications for the method, underwent directional coronary atherectomy. Vessels treated were, respectively, left anterior descending artery (LAD), right coronary artery (RCA), saphenous vein graft (SVG) to LAD and SVG to left marginal branch. Reductions to 50 % or less of the internal diameter was considered a satisfactory result. Early success was obtained in all four patients. Obstructions of 75 to 95% (mean of 83 + 7.5°/O) were reduced to 0-25% (mean 12 ± 5%) after atherectomy. Only one patient died suddenly five days after de procedure. So, directional coronary atherectomy may represent a reliable and safe method for special situations

Quatro pacientes, do sexo masculino, com idades entre 38 a 59 (média = 49 ± 2,5) anos, com angina de peito e as características angiográficas enquadrandose nas indicações atuais do método utilizado, realizaram aterectomia oronária direcional. Os vasos dilatados foram coronária descendente anterior, coronária direita, ponte de safena para a coronária descendente anterior e ponte de safena para o 2° ramo marginal da artéria coronária circunflexa. Resultado satisfatório, após a realização do procedimento, foi considerado a redução da obstrução a valores menores ou iguais a 50 %. O sucesso inicial da aterectomia coronária foi observado em todos os pacientes. O grau de obstrução dos vasos abordados reduziu-se de 75 - 95% (média de 83 7,5%) para 0-25% (média de 12 ± 5%) pós aterectomia. Apenas um paciente faleceu subitamente no 5° dia. Assim, a aterectomia coronária direcional, em situações específicas, parece ser um procedimento eficaz e seguro