Treatment of Heavily Calcified Unprotected Left Main Disease With Lithotripsy: The First Case Series

J Invasive Cardiol. 2019 Jun;31(6):E143-E147.

Abstract

We present the first case series using Shockwave Intravascular Lithotripsy (S-IVL; Shockwave Medical), a novel coronary calcium modification device, in patients with heavily calcified unprotected left main (LM) coronary artery disease (CAD). Decisions regarding surgical vs percutaneous revascularization in LM-CAD patients are based on anatomical complexity and perceived surgical risk. In this series, we present the use of S-IVL in a patient with LM-CAD with multivessel disease who declined surgery, a patient with an isolated LM-CAD and severe cardiomyopathy, and a late nonagenarian patient where surgical revascularization was not an option.

Keywords: calcification; complications; high-risk PCI.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Coronary Angiography
  • Coronary Artery Disease / diagnosis
  • Coronary Artery Disease / therapy*
  • Coronary Vessels / diagnostic imaging*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lithotripsy / methods*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Vascular Calcification / diagnosis
  • Vascular Calcification / therapy*