Percutaneous rotational atherectomy in peripheral vascular disease for lesions unsuitable for balloon angioplasty.

ABSTRACT

Percutaneous rotational atherectomy (Rotablator), a high speed (> 140,000 RPM) rotational burr was used to relieve 90-99 percent obstruction in 3 superficial femoral and 2 axillary arteries. These patients had severe claudication in respective extremities. In 4 patients, the lesion was considered to be unsuitable for balloon angioplasty and one patient underwent rotational atherectomy after failure to cross the lesion with balloon catheter. The burr size used ranged from 1.5 to 2.5 mm. After rotablation, the stenosis was reduced from 94.6 +/- 4.5 percent to 42 +/- 8.4 percent. The residual narrowing was further reduced by adjunctive balloon angioplasty to 14 +/- 5.5 percent (p < 0.001). Except for hemoglobinuria in one patient, there were no complications. All patients had good distal pulsations and were relieved of their claudication. On follow-up of 5-18 months, there has been no restenosis. Thus, our preliminary experience suggests that rotational atherectomy is safe and produces gratifying results in patients with peripheral vascular disease having lesions unsuitable for primary balloon angioplasty.