Treatment of Critical Hand Ischemia via Orbital Atherectomy and Focal Force Balloon Angioplasty: A mini-review

Abstract Calcified lesions in below-the-elbow (BTE) arteries are common in patients with diabetes or end-stage renal disease and can lead to critical hand ischemia (CHI). Treatment of calcified lesions with atherectomy has proved useful in the lower extremities, however, atherectomy in the upper extremities and especially BTE, is not typically considered due to the small vessel size. We review and discuss these studies along with other CHI-related articles and also present a case of a severely calcified ulnar artery lesion treated with orbital atherectomy and plain Chocolate balloon angioplasty.