Intravascular shockwave lithotripsy as a treatment modality for symptomatic mesenteric ischemia

Area of Science:

• Vascular Surgery
• Interventional Cardiology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI) management traditionally involves open surgery or endovascular therapy.
• Endovascular approaches offer lower peri-procedural risks but often lack long-term durability.
• Intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) modifies calcified plaque to enhance vessel expansion and patency.

Observation:

• A 75-year-old woman presented with symptomatic chronic mesenteric ischemia.
• She had a 99% stenosis in the superior mesenteric artery.
• The patient underwent intravascular shockwave lithotripsy for treatment.

Findings:

• The intravascular shockwave lithotripsy procedure resulted in an excellent outcome.
• This suggests IVL's potential efficacy in treating complex mesenteric artery stenosis.
• Further investigation into IVL for CMI is warranted.

Implications:

• Intravascular shockwave lithotripsy may provide a durable solution for chronic mesenteric ischemia.
• This technique could expand endovascular treatment options for mesenteric artery disease.
• Successful IVL application in CMI could improve patient outcomes and reduce the need for repeat interventions.