Key result
Shockwave intravascular lithotripsy reduced severe abdominal aortic calcific stenosis from >90% to approximately 40%, successfully facilitating large-bore transfemoral access for Impella-assisted PCI and TAVR.
Why the study?
Aortic calcification increases the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, but no expert consensus or guidelines exist for its management when hindering cardiac interventions.
Case Report (n=1)
No
Intravascular lithotripsy offers a feasible, off-label strategy to modify severe aortoiliac calcification and permit large-bore transfemoral access for complex structural and coronary interventions.
May facilitate large-bore access in severe aortoiliac calcification; hypothesis-generating and should not yet change practice.
Aortic calcification is associated with an increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, and while cases have been reported for its management, no expert consensus or guidelines currently exist. An 81-year-old male presented with recurrent falls and was diagnosed with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) and coronary artery disease (CAD) requiring high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Severe aortoiliac calcifications complicated clinical decision-making, posing a challenge to large-bore sheath placement. After heart-team review, shockwave intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) with bilateral 7×60 mm balloons was utilized to deliver sonic pressure waves at low inflation pressures to selectively fracture intimal and medial calcium. Improved vessel compliance facilitated Impella-assisted PCI and staged TAVR. This case demonstrates that IVL may be a viable option for aortic calcification when alternative approaches are limited. Its familiar balloon-based design and low-pressure inflation enhance its appeal. While procedural vascular risks do exist, they remain low and can be minimized with proper device sizing and technique.
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Bharaj et al. (2025) conducted a case report in Severe symptomatic aortic stenosis and aortoiliac calcification (n=1). Shockwave intravascular lithotripsy was evaluated on Procedural success (reduction of stenosis and successful large-bore sheath placement). Shockwave intravascular lithotripsy reduced severe abdominal aortic calcific stenosis from >90% to approximately 40%, successfully facilitating large-bore transfemoral access for Impella-assisted PCI and TAVR.
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