Background: To describe the use of orbital technique of atherectomy as an adjunct to successful angioplasty and stent placement of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA).
Case report: The technique is demonstrated in a 68-year-old man with critical SMA stenosis. The SMA was cannulated with 0.014-in wire, but the lesion was highly stenotic and densely calcified and prevented the passage of even the smallest 1.5-mm balloon. Orbital atherectomy was thus performed with a 1.25-mm CSI crown. Balloon angioplasty was then possible with a 4 mm × 2 cm balloon followed by placement of a 7 mm × 22 mm balloon-mounted stent.
Conclusions: The use of atherectomy as an adjunct to angioplasty and stenting in extensive, calcified SMA lesions supports the value of this technique to avoid a much larger and morbid open procedure.
Published by Elsevier Inc.