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

Is IVUS Always Necessary for Left Main Coronary Artery PCI?

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of the unprotected left main coronary artery is a highly complex procedure because of the large amount of myocardium at...

Dual-Prep Registry: Atherectomy and IVL for Severe Coronary Calcification

Severe coronary calcification remains one of the most challenging scenarios in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Although rotational or orbital atherectomy and intravascular lithotripsy (IVL)...

Prehospital heparin in STEMI: A safe strategy associated with improved early reperfusion

Early reperfusion remains the main prognostic determinant in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Although primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the treatment...

Plaque Ruptures in Non-Culprit Arteries: Follow-Up With Intravascular Imaging

Plaque rupture remains one of the most important pathophysiological mechanisms in acute coronary syndromes. However, not all ruptures manifest clinically as ischemia, myocardial infarction,...

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Related Articles

SOLACI Sessionsspot_img
Jornadas Guatemala 2026

Recent Articles

UNICORN Technique to Prevent Coronary Obstruction During TAVI: Initial Results From a Multicenter Study

Coronary obstruction is an uncommon but potentially catastrophic complication of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), particularly in valve-in-valve procedures, TAV-in-TAV interventions, or in patients...

Supera vs. Eluvia at 3 Years in Severely Calcified Femoropopliteal Lesions

Severe calcification remains one of the main predictors of restenosis and the need for repeat revascularization following endovascular treatment of femoropopliteal disease. In this...

Is IVUS Always Necessary for Left Main Coronary Artery PCI?

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of the unprotected left main coronary artery is a highly complex procedure because of the large amount of myocardium at...