title: Acute and follow-up results using a new atherectomy catheter for proximal LAD lesions and influence on LCx ostium.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to evaluate the acute and chronic results of directional coronary atherectomy (DCA) using the Flexi-Cut atherectomy catheter to treat a left anterior descending artery (LAD) proximal lesion and the device's effect on the ostium of the left circumflex (LCx) immediately and during the postprocedure follow-up period.
  
  
  METHODS
  From June 2001 to October 2004, 74 lesions were treated by DCA alone for LAD proximal lesions. Quantitative coronary angiography was performed pre-, post-DCA and during the follow-up period for the treated site and the LCx ostium.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The angiographic restenosis rate was 12.2%. The target lesion revascularization rate was 9.5%. After the procedure and during follow up, there was no evidence of LCx stenosis (% DS > 50%) caused by DCA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that DCA for LAD proximal lesions is a feasible strategy and does not affect the LCx ostium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The Cardiovascular Institute, 7-3-10 Roppongi, Minato-ku Tokyo, Japan, 106-0032. oikawa@cvi.or.jp
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Oikawa
authors.forename: Junji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yajima
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kirigaya
authors.forename: Kazuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nagashima
authors.forename: Masafumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akabane
authors.forename: Ryuichi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Funada
authors.forename: Shunsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsuno
authors.forename: Tadanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aizawa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017225:Atherectomy, Coronary / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D002404:Catheterization; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D023903:Coronary Restenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004867:Equipment Design; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome