Lithotripsy for peripheral artery disease: Encouraging immediate results…But show us the money!

Of adults, 12% have PAD, with nearly 30% older than 70 years with the disorder. With obesity, diabetes mellitus, tobacco abuse, hypercholesterolemia, and poorly controlled hypertension, the incidence of PAD continues to increase. Endovascular treatment of femoropopliteal disease has an alarmingly high rate of restenosis, even with new technology with target lesion revascularization rates at 40-60% at 1 year. Intravascular lithotripsy appears to be safe and acutely effective, but there is no long-term data on whether it has a role in effective treatment of PAD.