What is a rotablator procedure?

During a coronary atherectomy procedure, the cardiologist uses a catheter with a precision, rotating blade or burr at its tip to shave the plaque accumulation and open the blockage.

What is the recommended rate of Burr rotation when using a rotablator?

It is best to advance and retreat the burr no more than 3 cm at a time in a smooth pecking motion, being careful engage the lesion only minimally when resistance is met. Short individual runs of less than 30 seconds are recommended with total rotational procedure time not to exceed five minutes.

Is a rotablator an atherectomy?

Rotational atherectomy (RA) is an endovascular procedure to ablate atherosclerotic plaque by forward advancement of a rotating abrasive burr. The Rotablator Rotational Atherectomy System (Figure 1; Boston Scientific, Natick, MA) has been commercially available for use in the coronary arteries for the past 3 decades.

What are the risks of Rotablation?

Acute no flow, severe vessel dissection with impending acute closure, atheroembolism and transient profound hypotension are the most frequently encountered risks in rotablation.

What is Rotablation angioplasty?

It is essentially a drilling technique done with the help of special diamond tip burr, which rotates at a speed of 150,000 to 200,000 rotations per minute. This drilling technique clears the inside of the arteries to help pass the balloon and stent easily.

Who invented rotablator?

David Auth
David Auth. Mike worked under the UW professor to engineer the Rotablator and is listed jointly on a handful of patents that were filed with Auth as the primary inventor. The Rotablator was named as such because it ablates. Calcium buildup is a growing problem in the treatment of coronary artery disease.

How does a cutting balloon work?

The Cutting Balloon is a unique angioplasty device used in percutaneous coronary interventions. The advantage of the Cutting Balloon is its ability to reduce vessel stretch and vessel injury by scoring the vessel longitudinally rather than causing an uncontrolled disruption of the atherosclerotic plaque.

Is Rotablation a surgery?

This is a procedure which attempts to “bore out” a narrowing in a coronary artery which might not otherwise respond to stenting. The test involves the insertion of a long thin catheter into an artery in the groin or wrist under local anaesthetic.