Which term describes removing plaque with a catheter-mounted cutting device, rotating blade, or laser?

Which term describes removing plaque with a catheter-mounted cutting device, rotating blade, or laser?

• A. Atherectomy
• B. Stenting
• C. Angioplasty
• D. Thrombolysis

Answer: (A)

The term describes removing plaque with a catheter-mounted cutting device, rotating blade, or laser: atherectomy. The goal of atherectomy is to physically debulk or modify the atherosclerotic plaque to enlarge the vessel lumen. Different forms include directional atherectomy, which uses a cutter to shave plaque; rotational atherectomy, which employs a high-speed burr to grind away calcium-bridged plaque; and laser atherectomy, which vaporizes tissue with laser energy. This approach differs from balloon angioplasty, which simply sweeps or compresses plaque to widen the artery without removing it; stenting, which places a scaffold to keep the vessel open after intervention; and thrombolysis, which dissolves clots rather than plaque.

The term describes removing plaque with a catheter-mounted cutting device, rotating blade, or laser: atherectomy. The goal of atherectomy is to physically debulk or modify the atherosclerotic plaque to enlarge the vessel lumen. Different forms include directional atherectomy, which uses a cutter to shave plaque; rotational atherectomy, which employs a high-speed burr to grind away calcium-bridged plaque; and laser atherectomy, which vaporizes tissue with laser energy. This approach differs from balloon angioplasty, which simply sweeps or compresses plaque to widen the artery without removing it; stenting, which places a scaffold to keep the vessel open after intervention; and thrombolysis, which dissolves clots rather than plaque.