PERCUTANEOUS ROTATIONAL CORONARY ATHERECTOMY - INITIAL GREEN-LANE-HOSPITAL AND MERCY-HOSPITAL EXPERIENCE

Aims. Rotational atherectomy is a new interventional technique and can be used as an alternative percutaneous treatment for selected coronar y atherosclerotic lesions. We report the initial Green Lane/Mercy hosp itals experience with rotational atherectomy and review the published international experience with the device. Methods. Patient case notes and prospectively recorded New Zealand national angioplasty data forms were reviewed for basic demographic data and angina symptoms, in-hosp ital complications and length of the hospital stay. Catheter laborator y worksheets were reviewed to obtain the duration of ablation, burr di ameter and adjunctive PTCA balloon diameter. Results. The main indicat ions for rotational atherectomy were heavy lesion calcification, ostia l location, or failure of an angioplasty balloon to cross or to dilate the lesion. Procedural success was achieved in 28 of 30 patients (93% ). One patient suffered a Q wave myocardial infarction and in another the lesion could not be crossed with the guide wire. Two patients requ ired repeat balloon angioplasty for early reocclusion without other se quelae and one patient had directional atherectomy 2 weeks later for o ngoing symptoms. Conclusion. Rotational atherectomy is a useful adjunc t to the percutaneous devices available to treat coronary disease.