Rotational Atherectomy Before Stenting in the Body of a Saphenous Vein Graft

Abstract

Management of stenosis of saphenous vein grafts in Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients remains challenging despite the advance in interventional cardiology techniques. Rotational atherectomy is an adjunctive technique used in certain anatomical conditions in native coronary arteries; its use in saphenous vein graft is still contra-indicated by the manufacturer, and has only been reported in few cases in the literature. We report a case of a calcified, non-dilatable, distal saphenous vein graft to Circumflex lesion in a heart failure patient presenting with Non STEMI. The lesion was just proximal to the anastomosis and could not be crossed. Because of high surgical risk, and against manufacturer guidelines, rotational atherectomy of the lesion was performed and was successful with a very good angiographic result. Rotational atherectomy to facilitate percutaneous interventions in saphenous vein graft lesions is feasible, and could be attempted in experienced centers provided the absence of luminal thrombus or dissection.