Back to atheroablation: Renaissance or déjà vu?

摘要

In the early 1990s atheroablation technology either by excimer laser or with atherectomy devices was introduced primarily to recanalize narrowed coronary or peripheral arteries. The initial premise was that by ablation of heavily burdened and calcified plaques, a larger lumen could be obtained. Further, the immediate recoil seen after balloon angioplasty and the recurrence rate of restenosis would diminish when compared to balloon angioplasty.