Atherectomy is a minimally invasive procedure healthcare providers use to remove plaque buildup and open narrow or blocked arteries.
A new, cellular-level approach to removing plaque build-up in the arteries could eventually lead to a cure for the chronic disease known as atherosclerosis, according to a researcher at Missouri S&T. The method uses nanoparticles that can be designed to deliver plaque-busting drugs to specific cells in arteries.
Angioplasty and Stents: Also referred to as a balloon angioplasty, this minimally invasive procedure opens narrowed arteries by targeted inflation. Doctors use a small catheter to guide a balloon into place, widening the artery to encourage adequate blood flow.
Although it isn't possible to remove plaque from your arterial walls without surgery, you can halt and prevent future plaque build-up. Research does not support that specific food items can help clear arteries naturally, but a healthier diet is essential to reduce the chance of it forming in the first place.
The Rotational Atherectomy Multicenter Registry24 reports procedural success in 94.7% of cases, but with an angiographic restenosis rate of 37.7%. Similarly, many other studies show favorable acute results but high restenosis rates.
Are there risks or complications of atherectomy? Sometimes a piece of plaque can break off and become lodged or stuck in a smaller downstream blood vessel as healthcare providers cut or scrape away plaque. The atherectomy procedure can also cut too deep and create a tear or hole in your blood vessel.
It takes around two hours to complete an atherectomy procedure with additional time for preparation and recovery. You will have to remain lying down for a few hours. Your hospital stay may be one or two days if all goes well.
There are no quick fixes for melting away plaque, but people can make key lifestyle changes to stop more of it accumulating and to improve their heart health. In serious cases, medical procedures or surgery can help to remove blockages from within the arteries.
Statins help lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, also known as “bad” cholesterol, in the blood. They draw cholesterol out of plaque and stabilize plaque, Blaha says.
Yes, lifestyle changes, including diet, smoking cessation, stress management and exercise, can decrease the size of atherosclerotic plaques. They can also help to stabilize them so that they are less likely to break off and block blood flow, decreasing your risk of a heart attack.
A: Yes. There have been several clinical studies — many of them done here at Cleveland Clinic — that show statins can reverse plaque buildup. Two statins in particular, atorvastatin, which is sold under the brand name Lipitor, and rosuvastatin, which is sold under the brand name Crestor, are the strongest statins.
It was originally considered to treat breast cancer and diabetes, but a drug called Trodusquemine also seems to be extremely successful at clearing out fat in arteries.
The key is lowering LDL and making lifestyle changes.
"Making plaque disappear is not possible, but we can shrink and stabilize it," says cardiologist Dr. Christopher Cannon, a Harvard Medical School professor. Plaque forms when cholesterol (above, in yellow) lodges in the wall of the artery.
Magnesium supplementation can inhibit atherosclerotic plaque formation in animals on high-fat diets. More recent human studies have revealed strong associations between low magnesium levels and higher heart disease risks. This demonstrates that magnesium can be a powerful protective measure to maintain heart health.
Eat a balanced diet that's high in heart-healthy fruits, vegetables, and fish. Exercise for at least 30 to 60 minutes a day. Stop smoking, cause that's really bad news for your arteries. If your cholesterol is high, ask your doctor whether you should take cholesterol-lowering medication.
Through angioplasty, our cardiologists are able to treat patients with blocked or clogged coronary arteries quickly without surgery. During the procedure, a cardiologist threads a balloon-tipped catheter to the site of the narrowed or blocked artery and then inflates the balloon to open the vessel.
This means as plaque grows, it is now a part of the blood vessel wall and not just a blockage on top of a normal artery. Because the plaque is so well incorporated into the wall of the vessel, it unfortunately can't be simply removed or reversed.
On MDsave, the cost of an Endovascular Revascularization with Atherectomy (femoral/popliteal territory) ranges from $8215 to $23697. Those on high deductible health plans or without insurance can shop, compare prices and save.
Removing plaque makes the artery wider, so blood can flow more freely to the heart muscles. In an atherectomy, the plaque is shaved or vaporized away with tiny rotating blades or a laser on the end of a catheter (a thin, flexible tube).
The risks of laser atherectomy are low. There is some possibility of heat damage to arterial walls, but this is rare. Blood flow can slow in the area, but this can be adjusted with medicines during the procedure.