Coronary atherectomy with the transluminal extraction endarterectomy catheter

Percutaneous transluminal coronary atherectomy was attempted in 25 consecutive patients with the transluminal extraction-endarterectomy catheter. Successful revascularization with residual stenosis less than 50% in diameter was achieved in 23 patients (92%). There were 2 cases of major complications: one with distal embolization which subsided after rtPA infusion and the other with occlusion of RCA underwent bypass surgery. One patient who had restenosis 3 months after the procedure, was successfully treated with PTCA. The technical aspects, advantages and limitations of this method were discussed.