IVL may be safer than atherectomy in patients with severely calcified lesions

The use of intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is still safe and effective when patients present with calcified nodules (CNs), according to new long-term data published in EuroIntervention.[1] Researchers compared outcomes from patients with and without CNs, highlighting key similarities in stent expansion and luminal gain.

Intravascular lithotripsy in action. Image courtesy of Shockwave Medical, a part of Johnson & Johnson MedTech.

Researchers explored data from more than 1,000 patients with calcified coronary artery disease who required plaque modification. IVL and atherectomy were linked to comparable success rates, but adverse events were less likely with IVL.