Laser Atherectomy: An exciting development in PAD treatment

Peripheral artery disease is caused by a buildup of plaque in the arteries within the body’s extremities (a condition known as atherosclerosis), and most commonly occurs in the legs. This plaque consists of cholesterol, fat and other substances that can “clog” the artery and hinder the flow of blood to the lower legs and feet.

One of the ways that vascular specialists treat atherosclerosis is with a minimally invasive procedure called atherectomy. This treatment—performed inside the blood vessel—uses a tiny catheter and miniature devices to break down and remove plaque from within the artery.

There are three primary types of atherectomy. Directional atherectomy uses a rotating blade that is directed toward the plaque, effectively “shaving” it off the artery wall. Rotational atherectomy uses a rapidly rotating burr (like a drill) to grind down and remove the plaque. A newer approach, called laser atherectomy, uses laser energy to vaporize the plaque.

Champlain Valley Vascular is the only vascular practice in the region to offer laser atherectomy, and there are several advantages to this approach when treating PAD:

• First, laser atherectomy is highly precise. It allows the doctor to destroy the plaque buildup without damaging the surrounding healthy tissue. This makes it ideal for treating complex or long lesions, which can be challenging with other techniques.
• Second, the laser catheter is smaller in size than other atherectomy devices. This allows for better maneuverability in complex vessel anatomy, and especially within smaller blood vessels. As a result, it allows us to treat disease that was previously considered untreatable and may have resulted in a leg amputation.
• Finally, because the laser energy effectively vaporizes plaque, there is less chance of smaller plaque particles breaking off and traveling to other areas of the body (a process known as embolization). This makes laser atherectomy potentially safer than other forms of atherectomy.

Like other forms of atherectomy, laser atherectomy offers many advantages over open surgery that include a lower risk of complications, such as bleeding, infection and tissue damage, as well as a shorter recovery times. It is also performed on an outpatient basis, so no hospital stay or general anesthesia is required.

If you have PAD and require treatment, please call us to learn more and to find out if laser atherectomy may be an option for you.

Not all doctors are yet aware of the many benefits of laser atherectomy, so if you’ve been told you need an amputation, you may wish to get a second opinion at Champlain Valley Vascular!