Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 28, 2026
A Two-Step Method for Percutaneous Transhepatic Choledochoscopic Lithotomy
Published on: September 13, 2022
Outcomes of Intravascular Coronary Shockwave Lithotripsy: A Single-Center Tertiary Experience From the Middle East
Ebrahim K Al-Ebrahim1, Azzam Alkhalifah1, Tahir Mohamed2
1Internal Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, SAU.
Insights
Intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) effectively treats heavily calcified coronary lesions, improving outcomes in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This study confirms IVL
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Interventional Cardiology
- Medical Devices
Background:
- Heavily calcified coronary lesions pose significant challenges during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
- Complications like stent underexpansion and malposition can negatively impact patient outcomes.
- Novel lesion preparation techniques are increasingly utilized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effectiveness and safety of intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) for preparing calcified coronary lesions before stenting.
- To evaluate IVL in both native coronary lesions and in-stent restenosis (ISR).
- To determine the impact of IVL on key clinical outcomes, including repeat revascularization, stroke, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study design.
- Inclusion of patients with coronary lesions exhibiting ≥70% stenosis requiring IVL.
- Data collected from King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC) between January 2019 and January 2025.
Main Results:
- Successful reperfusion achieved in all 45 enrolled patients.
- 100% of patients attained final thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) 3 flow.
- Zero in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were reported.
Conclusions:
- Intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) is a safe and effective method for managing heavily calcified coronary lesions.
- IVL facilitates successful stenting and reperfusion in complex coronary anatomies.
- These findings support IVL as a valuable tool for improving PCI outcomes in calcified lesions.
Abstract:
Heavily calcified coronary lesions present a significant challenge in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), often leading to complications such as stent underexpansion and malposition, which can negatively impact clinical outcomes. This retrospective study assesses the effectiveness of intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) in preparing calcified coronary lesions before stenting in native coronary lesions and in patients with in-stent restenosis (ISR). Data were collected from patients treated at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC), Riyadh, between January 2019 and January 2025. Patients with coronary lesions exhibiting ≥70% stenosis requiring IVL were included. The primary objectives of the study are to assess key clinical outcomes, including repeat revascularization, target lesion revascularization, stroke, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) post-IVL. Given the increasing use of novel lesion preparation techniques, this study aims to clarify whether IVL in native coronary or ISR offers effective and safe outcomes, potentially influencing treatment decisions for patients with severely calcified coronary lesions. In our study, IVL was demonstrated to be a safe and effective modality for the management of heavily calcified coronary lesions. Among the 45 enrolled patients, successful reperfusion was achieved in all cases, with 100% (45/45) attaining final thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) 3 flow. No in-hospital MACE (0%) was reported.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Urinary Tract Calculi VI: Surgical Management
01:30Urinary Tract Calculi III: Medical Management
01:24Cardiac Catheterization III: Left Heart Catheterization