Percutaneous Peripheral Atherectomy Using the Rotablator: A Single-Center Experience

In order to assess the role of percutaneous peripheral rotational ablation using Rotablator, 150 symptomatic patients (94 males, 56 females; mean age 73 +/- 1 years, range 42 to 90) having 212 complex peripheral vascular lesions were treated.Fifty percent of lesions were below the knee; 65% of patients had severe claudication, 11% moderate (24% were in stage III or IV Fontaine classification). The femoral lesions were significantly longer than those at other sites (5.7 +/- 0.4 versus 2.9 +/- 0.3 cm, p < 0.001). The mean length was 4.0 +/- 0.2 cm (range 1 to 20). All the lesions were considered complex; 93% of the lesions were clacified, and 63% were located at a bifurcation. Complementary balloon dilation (percutaneous transluminal angioplasty [PTA]) was significantly (p < 0.001) more frequent in femoropopliteal lesions (70 PTAs in 86 femoral arteries, 10 PTAs in 19 popliteal arteries) than in distal leg lesions (14 in 106 arteries).After Rotablator therapy alone, the percent stenosis decreased from 81.0% +/- 0.8% to 18.0% +/- 1.1%. The residual stenosis was greater at the femoral (44%) than at the distal level (19%) (p < 0.01). Adjunctive PTA (47 lesions) lowered residual stenosis to 10% at the femoral level and 3% at the distal level. Thirty-seven intraprocedural complications occurred (spasm, thrombosis, dissection, perforation, distal emboli, no reflow); seven procedures subsequently failed for an overall technical success of 97%. The mean follow-up period was 14.4 +/- 1.0 months (range 1 to 51). Among 125 patients having a follow-up period > or = 4 months, 114 patients representing 163 lesions underwent angiography. One hundred twenty-three lesions (76%) were patent, and 40 lesions (24%) showed restenosis (> or = 50% luminal narrowing) of 82.0% +/- 21%. The restenosis rate was higher in femoral (36%) than in distal (21%) or popliteal arteries (7%). Restenosis was more frequent for all lesions > or = 7 cm (p < 0.001) and for both above- and below-knee locations: 55% versus 19% for < 7 cm at the femoropopliteal level (p < 0.03), and 80% versus 18% at the distal level (p < 0.01).In our experience, percutaneous peripheral rotational ablation has taken a pre-eminent position in the treatment of distal leg arteries, especially in complex lesions. Our results have led us to broaden its indications to complex vascular lesions < or = 6 cm. In particular, the use of this technique for treatment of runoff vessels should improve the long-term patency of proximal PTA and bypass grafts. This device has become indispensable in our laboratory, where Rotablator therapy comprises 15% of all PTA procedures.