Outcomes of patients with severely calcified aorto‐ostial coronary lesions who underwent orbital atherectomy

ObjectivesWe assessed the feasibility and safety of orbital atherectomy in patients with severely calcified aorto‐ostial coronary artery lesions.BackgroundThe treatment of calcified aorta‐ostial coronary artery lesions is technically challenging. Orbital atherectomy can potentially damage the guiding catheter if it is not retracted sufficiently during treatment of ostial lesions. Orbital atherectomy can also excessively whip if the guiding catheter is not close enough to the ostium to provide sufficient support. Several techniques can be performed to successfully treat ostial lesions with orbital atherectomy.MethodsOur retrospective multicenter registry included 548 real‐world patients who underwent orbital atherectomy, 59 (10.8%) of whom underwent treatment for aorto‐ostial coronary artery lesions (left main artery [n = 35] and right coronary artery [n = 24]). The primary endpoint was the rate of 30‐day major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), defined as the occurrence of death, myocardial infarction, target vessel revascularization, and stroke.ResultsThe primary endpoint was similar in patients with and without ostial lesions (3.4% vs 2.2%, P = 0.2), as were the 30‐day rates of death (1.7% vs 1.4%, P = 0.7), myocardial infarction (1.7% vs 1.0%, P = 0.3), target vessel revascularization (0% vs 0%, P > 0.91), and stroke (0% vs 0.2%, P > 0.9). Angiographic complications and stent thrombosis did not occur in patients with ostial lesions.ConclusionsDespite its technical challenges, orbital atherectomy appears to be a feasible and safe treatment option for calcified aorto‐ostial coronary lesions.