Intravascular Lithotripsy is a catheter-based technique used to treat hardened calcium in artery walls. It delivers controlled sonic pressure waves inside a blood vessel to crack calcium and improve vessel flexibility. It is most commonly used during procedures to open narrowed coronary arteries (heart arteries) or peripheral arteries (leg and pelvic arteries).
NCS stands for **nerve conduction studies**. It is a test that measures how well electrical signals travel through a nerve. NCS is commonly used in neurology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, pain medicine, and spine clinics. It is often performed alongside **EMG (electromyography)** to evaluate nerve and muscle function.
Orbital Atherectomy is a catheter-based procedure used to modify hard, calcified plaque inside an artery. It is most commonly used to prepare narrowed blood vessels before angioplasty (balloon widening) and sometimes before stenting. In plain terms, it “sands down” calcium so a vessel can open more evenly. It is used in cardiovascular care for selected patients with heavily calcified arterial disease.
Electromyography is a test that evaluates how muscles and the nerves that control them are working. It records electrical signals from muscle and nerve tissue to look for patterns of injury or disease. It is commonly used in spine, orthopedic, and neurology clinics to evaluate arm or leg symptoms. It is often performed alongside nerve conduction studies in the same visit.
Rotational Atherectomy is a catheter-based technique used to treat very hard, calcified narrowing in arteries. It uses a tiny high-speed rotating burr to modify calcium within plaque so other devices can pass and expand. It is most commonly used during coronary angioplasty and stenting (PCI) for calcified coronary artery disease.
Atherectomy is a catheter-based procedure that removes plaque from inside an artery. Plaque is a buildup of cholesterol, calcium, and scar-like tissue that can narrow blood flow. Atherectomy is commonly used in leg arteries and, in selected cases, in heart (coronary) arteries. It is often performed as part of a broader plan to reopen a narrowed or blocked vessel.
EMG stands for electromyography. It is a test that evaluates how muscles and the nerves that control them are working. It is commonly used in spine, neurology, and rehabilitation clinics to investigate symptoms like numbness, tingling, weakness, or radiating pain. EMG is often performed alongside nerve conduction studies to build a clearer picture of nerve function.
Thrombectomy is a procedure to remove a blood clot from a blood vessel. Its goal is to reopen the vessel and restore blood flow to the affected tissue. It is commonly used in urgent vascular conditions, including stroke and some heart and limb artery problems. It may also be used for large clots in veins or the lungs in selected cases.
Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry is an imaging test that estimates bone mineral density. It helps clinicians assess bone strength and fracture risk. It is commonly used in osteoporosis screening and monitoring. It may also be used in spine care planning, especially when surgery or hardware is being considered.
BMS most commonly means **bare-metal stent** in cardiovascular medicine. A BMS is a small, expandable metal mesh tube placed inside an artery to help keep it open. It is most often used during **percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)** for narrowed heart arteries. Clinicians may also discuss BMS when comparing stent options for peripheral (leg) or other arterial disease.