Treatment of in-stent restenosis with high speed rotational atherectomy and IVUS guidance in small <3.0 mm vessels

The management of in-stent restenosis remains a subject for debate because no one revascularization option is considered the most appropriate. Since a high restenosis rate still occurs after repeat balloon angioplasty, new techniques are attempted in order to reduce this rate. A combination of high speed rotational atherectomy (HSRA) and adjunctive balloon angioplasty is likely to achieve good results. In small (<3.0 mm diameter) vessels, the risk of interaction between the burr and the stent increases. We thus used intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guidance in the treatment of in-stent restenosis with HSRA in small <3.0 mm small diameter vessels. Nine patients with in-stent restenosis in small vessels were referred for repeat angioplasty. Initial IVUS examination was used to assess the minimal stent struts diameter and to guide the burr size selection. A combination of HSRA and additional balloon angioplasty was performed under IVUS and angiographic guidance. Mean angiographic reference diameter was 2.25 +/- 0.35 mm and mean stent struts diameter was 2.38 +/- 0.20 mm. Burr size was selected approximately 0.5 mm smaller than stent struts diameter and ranged from 1.75 to 2.5 mm, with a 0.88 +/- 0.12 mean burr/artery ratio (range 0.71, 1.08). In two patients, a second larger burr was used. In 4/9 patients, the burr size chosen under IVUS guidance was close to angiographic MLD at stent implantation and thus larger than what would be used without IVUS guidance. Additional balloon angioplasty was decided in all cases, using a 1.1 +/- 0.15 balloon/artery ratio. No complication occurred. Mean relative gain in minimal lumen diameter (MLD) was 94 +/- 90% after HSRA and 54 +/- 34% after balloon angioplasty (total relative gain 180 +/- 100%). IVUS guidance allowed safe management of in-stent restenosis in small vessels using combination of HSRA and balloon angioplasty. Long-term follow-up and comparison with other techniques are necessary to assess whether this technique should be used routinely.