Burr Entrapment Research Articles

Comparison of Frequency of Complications With On-Label Versus Off-Label Use of Rotational Atherectomy

Although rotational atherectomy (RA) is used for complex lesions in percutaneous coronary intervention, there are several contraindications and precautions. The purpose of our study was to compare complications between off-label and on-label use of RA. We identified 250 consecutive patients who underwent RA. Off-label characteristics included saphenous vein graft lesions, presence of thrombus, unprotected left main stenosis, coronary artery dissection, acute myocardial infarction (MI), left ventricular dysfunction, 3-vessel disease, long lesion (≥ 25 mm), or angulated lesion (≥ 45°). Patients who had ≥ 1 off-label characteristic were assigned to the off-label group (156 patients), and patients who had no off-label characteristics were assigned to the on-label group (94 patients). Occurrence of slow flow or periprocedural MI in the off-label group was higher than that in the on-label group (slow flow 30% vs 18%, p = 0.06; MI 8.8% vs 2.1%, p = 0.04), whereas severe complications such as burr entrapment, transection of the guidewire, or perforation were rare in the 2 groups. In conclusion, compared to the on-label group, the off-label group had a higher incidence of slow flow and periprocedural MI. Severe complications such as burr entrapment, transection of the guidewire, or perforation were rare in the 2 groups.

Successful removal of an entrapped rotablation burr by extracting drive shaft sheath followed by balloon dilatation

Burr entrapment is a rare but serious complication during rotational atherectomy (RA). Although emergent surgical removal is a reliable option for this complication, surgical removal is invasive and takes several hours. Balloon inflation just proximal to the burr was the previously-reported nonsurgical option for burr removal. However, this method needed large guide catheter lumen (≥8 Fr). We present a case of 67-year-old male on chronic hemodialysis. During RA for severe stenosis of the right coronary artery, the RA burr was entrapped. We cut off the drive shaft, the drive shaft sheath, and the RA wire together near the advancer, and then we removed the drive shaft sheath. After removing the drive shaft sheath, the 2.5 mm balloon easily entered the 7-Fr guide catheter. We inflated that balloon to a pressure of 18 atm. The burr was easily removed immediately after balloon deflation. Removal of the drive shaft sheath following balloon dilatation is a new, nonsurgical bailout method for a burr that becomes entrapped during RA. Since removal of the drive shaft sheath following balloon dilatation can be applied to 7 Fr as well as 6 Fr guide systems, this method may be of considerable benefit when operators use 7 Fr or 6 Fr systems.

Successful retrieval of an entrapped rotablator burr using 5 Fr guiding catheter

Although burr entrapment is a rare complication of the Rotablator, it is extremely difficult to retrieve a fixedly entrapped burr without surgical procedure. An 84-year-old male with effort angina had heavily calcified coronary trees as well as severe stenosis in the mid LCx, and moderate stenosis in the proximal LCx, and in the LMT. We planned to perform rotational atherectomy in the LCx lesions. Using 7 Fr Q-curve guiding catheter and Rotawire floppy, we began to ablate using 1.5-mm burr at 200,000 rpm. Because the burr could not pass the proximal stenosis, we exchanged the wire for Rotawire extrasupport and the burr for 1.25-mm burr, and restarted the ablation at 220,000 rpm. Although the burr could manage to pass the proximal stenosis, it had become trapped in the mid LCx lesion. Simple pull on the Rotablator, rotation of the burr, and crossing the Conquest (Confianza) wire could not retrieve it. Thus, we cut off the drive shaft and sheath of the Rotablator, inserted 5 Fr 120-cm straight guiding catheter (Heartrail ST01; Terumo) through the remaining Rotablator system, pushed the catheter tip to the lesion around the burr as well as simultaneously pulled the Rotablator, and finally could retrieve it. Then we implanted stents in the LCx and in the LMT without difficulty. The 5 Fr straight guiding catheter might be useful for retrieving an entrapped burr (1.25-mm burr).