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Plaque Removal With Laser Treatment

Plaque is a dangerous combination of cholesterol, calcium and fat that can accumulate in arteries in the body and reduce blood flow. Doctors sometimes remove plaque buildup with a laser inserted into the affected blood vessel.

  1. The Facts

    • Plaque can significantly narrow the arteries, diminish the heart's blood supply and increase the likelihood of blood clots that can completely shut off the blood flow through an artery, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.

    Laser Atherectomy

    • One procedure used to remove dangerous plaque from the arteries is called laser atherectomy. In this process, doctors guide a catheter-mounted laser to the site of arterial plaque, then use pulses of light from the laser to vaporize plaque deposits.

    Targeting Plaque Deposits

    • Prior to the procedure, doctors inject antibodies into the bloodstream that bind to plaque deposits. They then use these antibody targets to safely guide the actions of the laser.

    Risks

    • Known risks of laser atherectomy include heart rhythm irregularities, the creation of damaging vapor bubbles and spasms or perforations of the artery.

    Related Procedures

    • Doctors often perform an atherectomy in combination with another artery-clearing procedure called a balloon angioplasty, which uses a small balloon inserted into the artery to force plaque deposits against an artery's walls.

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