1. Brushing Your Arteries
Like plaque buildup on teeth can lead to oral problems, so too can plaque buildup in major arteries such as the carotid artery, and arteries in the neck, lead to serious health issues. People who have such a buildup (fat, cholesterol and/or fibrous tissue accumulating on the inner lining of an artery) are more prone to strokes and heart disease. An atherectomy or ablation is an invasive procedure in which such buildup is removed from the arteries. This treatment is used primarily for coronary and carotid arteries and is rarely used for arteries in other parts of the body.
2. Minor Procedure for Major Arteries
An atherectomy is a common procedure, a bit uncomfortable but not unbearable. The procedure consists of a catheter (a long thin tube) being placed into the body and guided to the site where the buildup is located. The catheter is most usually inserted in the groin area, above the femoral artery, after the area has been numbed and a guide wire and sheath placed into the incision. The patient is sedated mildly, but remains awake and alert throughout the procedure.
3. More Than One Way to Clean an Artery
There are different types of devices used to remove the plaque from the artery wall. It can be shaved, cut or pulverized, depending mostly on how soft or hard the plaque is. Sometimes the plaque has hardened, a condition known as atherosclerosis, and in these cases a laser device can pulverize the plaque. In most cases, though, a cutting device such as a blade or a rotating device (a burr) is used to cut or scrape away the buildup. Scraped debris can be removed via a collection chamber, or pulverized material is simply flushed into the artery.
4. Proper Pre-treatment Preparation
Having an atherectomy involves a bit more than showing up and having the catheter inserted. When plaque buildup is suspected, some tests must be conducted before an atherectomy will be performed. A CT scan, MRI and/or an angiogram (an X-ray of the arteries involving the injection of a contrast agent) will help show the physician the location and severity of the plaque buildup. Blood tests are also conducted. A patient taking aspirin or blood thinners regularly will be advised to stop these medications. No food should be eaten up to 12 hours before the procedure.
5. Life After an Atherectomy
Complications connected to an atherectomy are not very common and include a perforation of an artery, a blood vessel spasm or the splitting open of a vessel, a hematoma or a clot formation. A patient is usually monitored in the hospital for a day after this procedure. If there are no signs of any complications and the patient is drinking fluids, he is sent home. Usual activities can be resumed within 24 hours. Lifestyle changes including diet, exercise and stopping smoking will be encouraged dependent on the amount and type of buildup removed.
