Atherectomy (also known as Atherectomies, Percutaneous Transluminal Atherectomy): Endovascular procedure in which atheromatous plaque is excised by a cutting or rotating catheter. It differs from balloon and laser angioplasty procedures which enlarge vessels by dilation but frequently do not remove much plaque. If the

NIH MeSH · D017073Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment

Atherectomy

Also known asAtherectomies · Percutaneous Transluminal Atherectomy · Atherectomies, Percutaneous Transluminal · Atherectomy, Percutaneous Transluminal · Percutaneous Transluminal Atherectomies · Transluminal Atherectomies, Percutaneous · Transluminal Atherectomy, Percutaneous · Transluminal Atherectomy · Atherectomies, Transluminal · Atherectomy, Transluminal · Transluminal Atherectomies · Percutaneous Atherectomy

Definition

Endovascular procedure in which atheromatous plaque is excised by a cutting or rotating catheter. It differs from balloon and laser angioplasty procedures which enlarge vessels by dilation but frequently do not remove much plaque. If the plaque is removed by surgical excision under general anesthesia rather than by an endovascular procedure through a catheter, it is called ENDARTERECTOMY.

MeSH classification

  • E02.148.050.120
  • E04.100.814.529.124.120
  • E04.502.382.124.120
  • E05.157.016.120

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Related concepts

Angioplasty, Balloon

Use of a balloon catheter for dilation of an occluded artery. It is used in treatment of arterial occlusive diseases, including renal artery…

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary

Dilation of an occluded coronary artery (or arteries) by means of a balloon catheter to restore myocardial blood supply.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Laser-Assisted

Techniques using laser energy in combination with a balloon catheter to perform angioplasty. These procedures can take several forms includi…

Angioplasty, Laser

A technique utilizing a laser coupled to a catheter which is used in the dilatation of occluded blood vessels. This includes laser thermal a…

Atherectomy, Coronary

Percutaneous transluminal procedure for removing atheromatous plaque from the coronary arteries. Both directional (for removing focal athero…

Common questions about Atherectomy

What does Atherectomy mean in medicine?
Endovascular procedure in which atheromatous plaque is excised by a cutting or rotating catheter. It differs from balloon and laser angioplasty procedures which enlarge vessels by dilation but frequently do not remove much plaque. If the plaque is removed by surgical excision under general anesthesia rather than by an endovascular procedure through a catheter, it is called ENDARTERECTOMY. This definition is taken from the National Library of Medicine's MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) 2026 release, which is the standard vocabulary used to index PubMed and most medical literature.
Is Atherectomy known by any other names?
Yes. Atherectomy is also referred to as Atherectomies, Percutaneous Transluminal Atherectomy, Atherectomies, Percutaneous Transluminal, Atherectomy, Percutaneous Transluminal in different clinical, research and patient-facing contexts. The MeSH descriptor groups all of these synonyms under a single canonical concept so research and records stay consistent.
Where does Atherectomy sit in the medical classification?
Atherectomy falls under the broader medical category "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment" in the MeSH hierarchy (tree numbers: E02.148.050.120, E04.100.814.529.124.120, E04.502.382.124.120). Browsing the related concepts on this page takes you to neighbouring topics in the same branch of medicine.
Where can I get a plain-language explanation of Atherectomy?
For a plain-language explanation of Atherectomy - including symptoms, treatments and what it means for an Indian patient - ask GoDavaii's Health AI. It works in 22+ Indian languages, is free and needs no signup. Tap "Ask GoDavaii AI about Atherectomy" above.

Source: NIH MeSH 2026 (D017073) — National Library of Medicine, public domain. View official MeSH record ↗