Clinical, Hemodynamic, Electrocardiographic and Mechanical Events During Nonocclusive, Coronary Atherectomy and Comparison with Balloon Angioplasty

Abstract The periprocedural events and myocardial function during nonocclusive coronary atherectomy by Rotablator or transiluminal extraction catheter (TEC) may differ from events during balloon angioplasty. This may have important clincal consequences and needs to be defined further. Therefore, 17 patients undergoing Rotablator and 18 undergoing TEC atherectomy were assessed by clinical, hemodynamk and electrocardiographic monitoring and simultaneous transesophageal echocardiography. The findings were compared with similar parameters during subsequent balloon angioplasty performed in 16 of 17 patients undergoing Rotablator and 14 of 18 undergoing TEC atherectomy. Chest pain occurred more frequently during balloon inflation than during either atherectomy (p