Directional coronary atherectomy in intermediate sized vessels: final results of the intermediate vessel atherectomy...

Revascularization options for intermediate sized vessels (2.5-2.9 mm) have historically been limited. IVAT is a pilot study to assess the efficacy and safety of debulking intermediate sized vessels using directional coronary atherectomy (DCA). Between March 1996 and June 1997, 50 patients were enrolled at seven hospitals in the United States. Of those patients, 70% presented with unstable angina and 52% had single vessel disease. Of the lesions treated, 96% were de novo. Adjunctive PTCA after DCA was performed in 90% of cases at the discretion of the investigator to maximize luminal diameter. The GTO DCA device was used in 90% of cases. Procedural success (residual stenosis <50% without major complications) was 94%. Stents were placed in 12% of patients. The only complications were three non-Q wave MIs. Mean reference vessel diameter increased from 2.49 mm pre-procedure to 2.57 mm after DCA and 2.61 post-procedure; mean MLD increased from 0.76 mm to 2.03 mm to 2.31 mm; and mean stenosis decreased from 70% to 21% post DCA and to 11% post procedure. At six months follow-up, 18.0% of target lesions required revascularization. Total revascularization, including non-target vessels, was 32%. These results suggest that DCA has a high procedural success rate and a low target lesion revascularization rate in intermediate sized vessels.