Vascular calcification is a predictor of difficult stent positioning and expansion, which increases the chance of device failure (even with last generation stents). Calcium modifying strategies are being developed to reduce these difficulties. Two recent randomized studies compare different calcium preparation devices. The PREPARE-CALC compares rotational atherectomy (RA) against plaque modifying balloons (PMB = cutting…
The FDA Approves Intravascular Lithotripsy for Calcified Lesions
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the shockwave lithotripsy system to treat severely calcified plaque lesions. The device uses a balloon to release pressure sound waves capable of passing through the softest material, and possibly rupture calcified plaque and optimize stent implantation. As such, it has the potential to replace or, at…