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Published on: July 21, 2013
Tunnelling a calcified total occlusion
Jogendra Singh1, Dibyasundar Mahanta1, Rudra P Mahapatra2
1Department of Cardiology, 410775All India Institute of Medical Sciences, India.
Insights
Treating calcified coronary artery total occlusions is challenging. Intravascular lithotripsy offers an evolving alternative approach for plaque modification in complex coronary interventions.
Area of Science:
- Interventional Cardiology
- Vascular Biology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Calcified total occlusions in coronary arteries present significant challenges for interventional cardiologists.
- Complex cases require advanced techniques to ensure successful revascularization.
- Rotational atherectomy is a traditional method, but alternatives are being explored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a novel approach for treating calcified total coronary artery occlusion.
- To evaluate the use of intravascular lithotripsy as an alternative to rotational atherectomy.
Main Methods:
- A 48-year-old male patient with calcified total occlusion of the right coronary artery was treated.
- The chronic total occlusion was successfully crossed using a Nic-Nano balloon.
- Calcific plaque modification was performed using intravascular lithotripsy.
Main Results:
- The Nic-Nano balloon facilitated crossing the chronic total occlusion.
- Intravascular lithotripsy effectively modified the calcific plaque.
- This approach represents a potential alternative for complex calcified lesions.
Conclusions:
- Intravascular lithotripsy is a viable and evolving alternative technique for modifying calcific plaque in coronary artery total occlusions.
- This case highlights a promising strategy for complex coronary interventions.
Abstract:
Among the complex and high-risk coronary intervention cases, a calcified total occlusion of coronary artery poses a great challenge. We came across a 48 years old male who had calcified total occlusion of the right coronary artery. The chronic total occlusion was crossed using Nic-Nano balloon and the calcific plaque was modified using intravascular lithotripsy as an alternative technique to rotational atherectomy which we felt as an evolving alternative approach to treat the calcified total occlusion.
