Left unattended, the plaque builds up and restricts blood flow leaving the patient susceptible to heart disease. In the comparison study, doctors found that more patients who had been treated with atherectomy died within a year of treatment than patients treated with balloon angioplasty. They also concluded that the atherectomy patients had a significantly higher risk of heart attack than the angioplasty patients. However, researchers found atherectomy had its good points. Restenosis is a serious problem that forces many patients to undergo repeated procedures to keep the arteries open.
Cardiologists say the next step is to find out how to make atherectomy safer and more effective.
Researchers at the UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas are looking at a number of ways to keep the arteries open. One technique being explored is the use of a polymer stent that delivers medicine to the damaged artery, then dissolves after the artery has been repaired. Other Topics Health Watch is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.