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Samsung Medical Center announced on April 8 that it has successfully performed South Korea’s first orbital atherectomy procedure using the Orbital Atherectomy System (OAS).

The procedure was conducted in a patient with severely calcified coronary artery lesions. Coronary artery calcification is commonly observed in elderly patients and those with diabetes or impaired renal function. These lesions cause the vessel walls to become rigid, making stent expansion difficult and significantly increasing the risk of procedural failure and complications.

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Orbital Atherectomy System (OAS) is a technique in which a diamond-coated crown rotates in an orbital motion, selectively modifying calcified plaque while minimizing damage to the vessel wall. By improving vessel compliance, the technique facilitates safer and more uniform dilation of narrowed coronary arteries.

Unlike conventional atherectomy devices, OAS allows treatment across a range of vessel diameters—from 2.5 mm to 4.0 mm—simply by adjusting the rotational speed, without the need for device exchange, which is considered a key advantage.

Following this first case, the Interventional Cardiology Team, Division of Cardiology, Heart Vascular Stroke Institute at Samsung Medical Center (Professors Hyeon Cheol Gwon, Seung Hyuk Choi, Joo Yong Hahn, Young Bin Song, Jeong Hoon Yang, Taek Kyu Park, Joo Myung Lee, Ki Hong Choi, and Sang Yoon Lee) plans to establish a standardized OAS protocol tailored to the characteristics of Korean patients. The team also aims to optimize treatment strategies by integrating intravascular imaging technologies such as Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS).

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Professor Young Bin Song, who led the first procedure, stated, “Severely calcified lesions are technically challenging and have a substantial impact on clinical outcomes. The introduction of OAS is expected to enable more precise and predictable interventions, thereby supporting the development of personalized treatment strategies.”

Meanwhile, in April 2025, Samsung Medical Center also became the first institution in Korea to perform Coronary Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL), another advanced technique for the treatment of calcified coronary lesions.