Coronary Rotablation

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. Because there is still plaque after this procedure, the doctor inserts a balloon catheter to compress the remaining plaque against the artery wall (angioplasty procedure).

There are several variants on the atherectomy (rotoblader) procedure. These procedures are named by the type of cutting device that is at the tip of the catheter.