EuroPCR 2023 | Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL) Balloon in the Treatment of Underexpanded Stents

Calcified coronary plaque (CCP) is a challenge for interventional cardiology. Stent underexpansion (SU) commonly associated with CCP could predispose to stent thrombosis or restenosis. Currently, SU in severe CCP can be treated by rotational atherectomy, orbital atherectomy, balloon cutting/scoring, non-compliant high-pressure balloons, or intravascular lithotripsy (IVL).

The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine the success rate of IVL treatment of SU in CCP. 

The primary endpoint was success rate of the IVL strategy, defined as adequate expansion of underexpanded stents. 

The analysis included 13 studies pooling 354 patients. Mean patient age was 71 years old, and most subjects were male. Follow-up was 2.6 months. The strategy was successful in 88.7% of cases. The mean minimal stent area (MSA) was reported in 6 studies; the pre-IVL value was 3.4 mm2 and the post-IVL value was 6.9 mm2.

Read also: EuroPCR 2023 | TAVR in Patients with Bicuspid Aortic Valve Stenosis.

The average stenosis diameter was reported in 7 studies, with a pre-IVL value of 69.4% and post-IVL value of 14.6%. The intraprocedural complication rate was 1.6%. 

Conclusion

Plaque modification with SU due to CCP with the use of IVL has proven to be safe, with a high success rate and very low incidence of complications.

Dr. Andrés Rodríguez.
Member of the Editorial Board of SOLACI.org.

Original Title: Intravascular lithotripsy for the treatment of underexpanded stents: A meta-regression. 

Reference: Caminti et al. 


Subscribe to our weekly newsletter

Get the latest scientific articles on interventional cardiology

More articles by this author

Coronary Perforations and Use of Covered Stents: Safe and Effective Long-Term Strategy?

Coronary perforations remain one of the most serious complications of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), especially in cases of Ellis ruptures type III. In these...

Left Main Coronary Artery Disease: Intravascular Imaging-Guided PCI vs. Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Multiple randomized clinical trials have demonstrated superior outcomes with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) vs. percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with left main...

AHA 2025 | OCEAN Study: Anticoagulation vs. Antiplatelet Therapy After Successful Atrial Fibrillation Ablation

After a successful atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation, the need to maintain long-term anticoagulation (AC) remains uncertain, especially considering the very low residual embolic risk...

AHA 2025 | VESALIUS-CV: Evolocumab in High-Cardiovascular-Risk Patients Without Prior MI or Stroke

LDL cholesterol is a well-established factor for cardiovascular disease. Therapy with PCSK9 inhibitors, including evolocumab, has been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular...

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Related Articles

SOLACI Sessionsspot_img

Recent Articles

Coronary Perforations and Use of Covered Stents: Safe and Effective Long-Term Strategy?

Coronary perforations remain one of the most serious complications of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), especially in cases of Ellis ruptures type III. In these...

Is it really necessary to monitor all patients after TAVR?

Conduction disorders (CD) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) are a frequent complication and may lead to the need for permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI)....

Is it really necessary to monitor all patients after TAVR?

Conduction disorders (CD) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) are a frequent complication and may lead to the need for permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI)....