Intravascular Lithotripsy Facilitated Percutaneous Endovascular Intervention of the Aortic Arch: A Single-Center Experience
Highlights
- • Intravascular lithotripsy can modify heavily calcified atherosclerotic plaque.
- • Use and associated complications of IVL in aortic arch vessels are underreported.
- • We treated 5 patients with IVL of the aortic arch vessels.
- • 4 patients received IVL without complications; 1 suffered acute right eye blindness.
- • Trials to assess IVL's safety and efficacy in aortic arch vessels are warranted.
Abstract
Background
Intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) (Shockwave Medical, Inc., Fremont, California, USA) is a novel technology used to modify heavily calcified atherosclerotic plaque in vessels to help facilitate percutaneous coronary intervention and has been shown to be effective in treating critical lesions within the lower limbs. In addition, studies are currently underway evaluating IVL's feasibility in de novo calcified stenotic coronary arteries before stenting. The use and associated complications of IVL in other vascular territories are underreported. We report our institution's initial experience using IVL for the treatment of complex, heavily calcified lesions within the aortic arch vessels.