The Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, and Novel Treatment of Calcific Arterial Disease

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Interventional Cardiology
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Endovascular treatments are standard for arterial diseases, but severe calcification hinders procedures.
• Calcified lesions pose challenges for peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and vascular access for EVAR and TAVR.

Purpose of the Study:

• Introduce the Peripheral Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL) System for treating calcific lesions.
• Demonstrate IVL's utility in preparing access vessels for EVAR/TAVR and treating PAD.
• Highlight IVL's potential to enhance luminal gain and vessel compliance.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Peripheral Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL) System, applying pulsatile mechanical energy.
• Performed treatment under fluoroscopic guidance to disrupt calcified lesions.
• Described successful case applications and potential benefits in challenging cases.

Main Results:

• IVL enables angioplasty at lower pressures, potentially reducing arterial dissection.
• The lithotripsy effect improves vessel compliance by addressing calcification.
• Successful application of IVL in selected cases was observed.

Conclusions:

• Intravascular lithotripsy is a promising technology for managing complex calcific arterial disease.
• IVL facilitates endovascular procedures by preparing calcified vessels, improving outcomes for PAD, EVAR, and TAVR.
• Further investigation into IVL's broad applicability and benefits is warranted.