excision or destruction of *atheroma within an artery using equipment introduced by *catheter. Directional atherectomy involves the use of a device with an incising blade that can be directed to one side of the artery at a time. Rotational atherectomy (rotablation) is achieved with a diamond-tipped drill (burr) that rotates at up to 185,000 times per minute.
n. degeneration of the walls of the arteries due to the formation in them of fatty plaques and scar tissue. This limits blood circulation and predisposes to thrombosis. A diet rich in animal fats (see cholesterol) and refined sugar, cigarette smoking, obesity, and inactivity are the principal causes. Individuals with diabetes, hypertension, or a family history of early atheroma are particularly predisposed to the condition. It may be symptomless but often causes complications from arterial obstruction in middle and late life (such as angina pectoris, heart attack, stroke, and gangrene). Treatment is by prevention, but some symptoms may be ameliorated by drug therapy (e.g. angina by glyceryl trinitrate), by surgical bypass of the arterial obstruction, or by *atherectomy. —atheromatous adj.... atheroma
(PCI) treatment of coronary artery disease delivered by cardiac *catheterization. This usually means *coronary angioplasty followed by insertion of a coronary *stent, but also includes more specialized procedures, such as rotational *atherectomy (rotablation). Primary PCI refers to the use of PCI as the first-line treatment to relieve coronary obstruction in S-T elevation *myocardial infarction, rather than *thrombolysis. Rescue PCI is used in the event of unsuccessful thrombolysis.... percutaneous coronary intervention
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