The cutting balloon - A new technology?

The Cutting Balloon consists of a standard balloon dilatation catheter with four microtome-sharp blades that incise the plaque and minimize arterial wall trauma. It was used in 31 patients; nine had calcified arteries, ten had non-compliant lesions, three had in-stent restenosis and nine had aorto- ostial lesions. Seventeen lesions were predilated, 28 were post- dilated and 18 required stent implantation. The procedure was very effective in aorto- ostial lesions, non-compliant lesions that were not responsive to high- pressure balloon dilatation, and was partially successful in calcified arteries. It has a very specific niche in selected lesions.