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Limited data are available regarding myocardial injury and its risk factors in percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) of severe calcified lesions using orbital atherectomy (OA). Patients who underwent OA at our institution were retrospectively enrolled into the present registry. High-sensitive Troponin I (hsTroponin I), EKG and echocardiography were used to assess myocardial injury after the procedure. A total of 27 patients between who underwent OA between January 2022 and June 2023 were included. Myocardial injury (elevation of hsTroponin I above the 99th percentile upper reference limit) occurred in all patients. Median hsTroponin I on the first day after the procedure was 1093 (557–4037) ng/l with a minimum of 86 ng/l and a maximum of 25,756 ng/l. Myocardial infarction occurred in two patients (7 %), who had severe coronary dissection after OA. Lesions were longer (47 [38–52] mm vs. 20 [14–47] mm; p = 0.009) in patients with hsTroponin I levels above the median compared to those with levels below. Furthermore, a moderate correlation between hsTroponin I and lesion length was detected (r = 0.54; p = 0.004). In the present study myocardial injury occurred in all patients after OA without loss of viable myocardium in the majority of patients. Lesions length was found to be a significant factor associated with markedly increased hsTroponin I after the OA procedure. • Myocardial injury defined as elevation of hsTroponin I above the upper reference limit occurred in all patients after OA. • However, the incidence of myocardial infarction in this complex coronary anatomy population was rather low (7%). • Lesion length was identified as risk factor for myocardial injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the publication of the 2015 EAPCI consensus on rotational atherectomy, the number of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) performed in patients with severely calcified coronary artery disease has grown substantially. This has been prompted on one side by the clinical demand for the continuous increase in life expectancy, the sustained expansion of the primary PCI networks worldwide, and the routine performance of revascularization procedures in elderly patients; on the other side, the availability of new and dedicated technologies such as orbital atherectomy and intravascular lithotripsy, as well as the optimization of the rotational atherectomy system, has increased operators' confidence in attempting more challenging PCI. This current EAPCI clinical consensus statement prepared in collaboration with the EURO4C-PCR group describes the comprehensive management of patients with heavily calcified coronary stenoses, starting with how to use non-invasive and invasive imaging to assess calcium burden and inform procedural planning. Objective and practical guidance is provided on the selection of the optimal interventional tool and technique based on the specific calcium morphology and anatomic location. Finally, the specific clinical implications of treating these patients are considered, including the prevention and management of complications and the importance of adequate training and education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are several retrospective studies comparing rotational atherectomy (RA) and orbital atherectomy (OA), but all percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) in those studies were not performed under intracoronary imaging guidance. This study sought to compare the efficacy and safety of optical coherence tomography (OCT)-guided PCI with RA vs OA. The DIRO (To directly compare RA and OA for calcified lesions, a prospective randomized trial) trial was conducted. We enrolled patients with de novo calcified lesions (arc >180°) assessed by OCT or angiographically moderate or severe calcifications if the OCT catheter could not cross the lesion before any intervention. Eligible patients were randomly 1:1 allocated to lesion preparation with RA vs OA. Stent expansion was defined as the minimum stent area divided by the distal reference area multiplied by 100. Tissue modification was assessed using preatherectomy and postatherectomy OCT images. Procedural outcomes including periprocedural myocardial infarctions were evaluated. Furthermore, clinical events and vascular healing evaluated by OCT at 8 months postprocedure were assessed. The stent expansion was significantly greater in the RA group vs the OA group (99.5% vs 90.6%; P = 0.02). The maximum atherectomy area was significantly larger in the RA group than in the OA group (1.34 [IQR: 1.02-1.89] mm2 vs 0.83 [IQR: 0.59-1.11] mm2; P = 0.004). The procedural outcomes and clinical events at 8 months did not differ between the groups. The vascular healing was sufficient in both groups. The prospective randomized DIRO trial revealed that RA could produce a more favorable tissue modification, which may lead to a larger stent expansion than OA in heavily calcified lesions. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with symptomatic calcified coronary lesions have poor outcomes. Such lesions require additional atherectomy devices for bed preparation. To assess the safety and efficacy of OPN balloon in patients with calcified coronary lesions. This is an investigator-initiated, prospective, observational study. The primary outcome of the study was a procedural success. We studied 71 patients (133 lesions). Maximum lesions were located in LAD [46.6 %]. The OPN balloon was used for pre-dilatation alone in 28.6 % (Pre-stent OPN group), post-dilatation alone in 63.2 % of lesions (Post-stent OPN group), and in both situations in 8.3 % of lesions with procedural success in 98.5 % of patients. Further dilatation with different NC balloons was required in both groups (30 %). The median (IQR) OPN balloon diameter in the pre- and post-stent OPN group were 2.5 (2.5, 3.0) and 3.0 (3.0,3.0) mm (p = 0.001), respectively. The difference between the diameter of the stent and OPN balloon used in pre-stent OPN group was 0.5 (0.2, 0.5) mm while it was 0.0 (0.0,0.2) mm in the post-stent OPN group (p < 0.001). Eight complications and two deaths occurred. Distal shaft rupture was also noticed. OPN balloon is safe, and effective in treating calcified coronary lesions. We propose to undersize the balloon by 0.5 mm for pre-dilatation followed by 0.25 mm larger NC balloon if needed. In the post-dilatation group, use a 1:1 size balloon in a non-tortuous straight segment. Use imaging especially when (1) the pressure taken more than the rated burst pressure, (2) an OPN balloon size is ≥3 mm (3) using 1:1 size OPN balloon in a tortuous segment. • We have studied the safety and efficacy of super-high pressure OPN balloon in patients with CAD. • This is the largest paper from the Asia-Pacific region. • This is the first study to compare the safety and efficacy of pre-stent OPN balloon dilatation and post-stent OPN balloon dilatation, and its relationship with the size of the stent used in that particular segment. • We also studied the adverse events related to the balloon, especially the hypo-tube rupture that has not been described before in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcified lesions often lead to difficulty achieving optimal stent expansion. OPN non-compliant (NC) is a twin layer balloon with high rated burst pressure that may modify calcium effectively. Retrospective, multicenter registry in patients undergoing optical coherence tomography (OCT) guided intervention with OPN NC. Superficial calcification with > 180o arc and > 0.5 mm thickness, and/or nodular calcification with > 90o arc were included. OCT was performed in all cases before and after OPN NC, and after intervention. Primary efficacy endpoints were frequency of expansion (EXP) ≥80 % of the mean reference lumen area and mean final EXP by OCT, and secondary endpoints were calcium fractures (CF), and EXP ≥90 %. 50 cases were included; 25 (50 %) superficial, and 25 (50 %) nodular. Calcium score of 4 in 42 (84 %) cases and 3 in 8 (16 %). OPN NC was used alone, or after other devices if further modification was needed, NC in 27 (54 %), cutting in 29 (58 %), scoring in 1 (2 %), IVL in 2 (4 %); or if non-crossable lesion, rotablation in 5 (10 %) cases. EXP ≥80 % was achieved in 40 (80 %) cases with mean final EXP post intervention of 85.7 % ± 8.9. CF were documented in 49 (98 %) cases; multiple in 37 (74 %). There were 1 flow limiting dissection requiring stent deployment and 3 non-cardiovascular related deaths in 6 months follow-up. No records of perforation, no-reflow or other major adverse events. Among patients with heavy calcified lesions undergoing OCT guided intervention with OPN NC, acceptable expansion was achieved in most cases without procedure related complications. • OPN NC could be considered as a dedicated, efficient, and safe device for calcium modification in severe calcified lesions. • Our registry revealed that acceptable expansion was achieved in most cases without significant procedural complications. • Calcium fractures are the main plaque modification mechanism distributed circumferential and longitudinally. • The OPN NC balloon provided the largest calcified plaque modification among the devices that were used in this registry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Coronary calcifications, particularly in left main disease (LMD), are independently associated with adverse outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Adequate lesion preparation is pivotal to achieve favorable short- and long-term outcomes. Rotational atherectomy devices have been used in contemporary practice to obtain adequate preparation of the calcified lesions. Recently, novel orbital atherectomy (OA) devices have been introduced to clinical practice to facilitate the preparation of the lesion. The objective of this study is to compare the short-term safety and efficacy of orbital and rotational atherectomy for LMD. Methods: we retrospectively evaluated a total of 55 consecutive patients who underwent the LM PCI supported by either OA or RA. Results: The OA group consisted of 25 patients with a median SYNTAX Score of 28 (26–36). The Rota group consisted of 30 patients with a median SYNTAX Score of 28 (26–33.1) There were no statistical differences in MACCE between the RA and OA subpopulations when recorded in-hospital (6.7% vs. 10.3% p = 0.619) as well as in a 1-month follow-up after the procedure (12% vs. 16.6% p = 0.261). Conclusion: OA and RA seem to be similarly safe and effective strategies for preparating the lesion in the high-risk population with calcified LMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Available data with regard to the outcomes of patients with severely calcified left main (LM) lesions after revascularization by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) when compared to non-calcified LM lesions is unclear. Materials and Methods: The present study sought to retrospectively investigate in hospital and 1 year post-intervention outcomes of patients with extremely calcified LM lesions after PCI facilitated by calcium-dedicated devices (CdD). Seventy consecutive patients with LM PCI were included. CdD requirement was based on suboptimal results after balloon angioplasty. Results: Twenty-two patients (31.4%) required at least one CdD, while nine patients (12.8%) required at least two. Intravascular lithotripsy and rotational atherectomy were the predominantly used methods(59.1% and 40.9% respectively, for in-group ratios), while ultra-high pressure and scoring balloons contributed the least to lesion preparation (9%). In 20 patients (28.5%), severe or moderate calcifications were angiographically identified, but non-compliant balloon predilation was adequate and CdD were not necessary. Total procedural time was significantly higher in CdD group (p-value 0.02). Procedural and clinical success were obtained in 100% of cases. There were no major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) recorded during hospitalization. MACCE at 1 year post-procedure were recorded in three patients (4.2% overall). All three events were documented in the control group (6.2%), and no events were recorded in CdD group (p-value 0.23). There was one cardiac death at 10 months and two target lesion revascularizations for side-branch restenosis. Conclusions: Patients with extremely calcified LM lesions treated by PCI present a favorable prognosis if angioplasty is facilitated by more aggressive lesion debulking using calcium-dedicated devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronary artery calcification is prevalent in coronary heart disease with its progression being predictive of future adverse cardiac events. Its presence is considered to be a marker of interventional procedural complexity. Several adjunctive percutaneous coronary intervention tools, such as modifying balloons, atherectomy devices and intravascular lithotripsy, now exist to successfully treat calcified lesions. In this state-of-the-art review, a step-wise progression of strategies is described to modify coronary plaque, from well-recognised techniques to techniques that should only be considered when standard manoeuvres have proven unsuccessful. Technology has advanced greatly over the past few decades and we discuss how future technologies might shape percutaneous intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinicians have long recognized that certain features of coronary artery lesions increase the complexity of intervention. Complex lesions are associated with worse cardiovascular outcomes and a higher risk of subsequent ischemic events. These lesions are categorized by their angiographic features. These features include bifurcation lesions, left main coronary artery disease, calcified lesions, in-stent restenosis, chronic total occlusions and graft interventions. This two-part review aims to highlight the current evidence in the percutaneous management of these lesions. Part one of this review focuses on the best techniques to treat bifurcation lesions, indications for intervention of left main coronary artery disease and additional tools used to treat calcified lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Heavily calcified lesions in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) still represent a challenging subset for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Rota-lithotripsy—a marriage of rotational atherectomy and intravascular lithotripsy—has recently been introduced to clinical practice as a novel therapeutic option. Methods: This study is among the to present the 6-month clinical outcomes of rota-lithotripsy when performed in the ACS setting. The study cohort consisted of 15 consecutive ACS patients who underwent a rota-lithotripsy-PCI due to the presence of a highly calcified, undilatable lesion. Results: The procedural success ratio reached 100%. During the 6-month follow-up, in two of the patients, instances of MACE (major adverse cardiac events) occurred, including one fatal event. Additionally, during the observation period, one target lesion failure, due to subacute stent thrombosis, was identified. Conclusions: Rotational atherectomy with the subsequent use of shockwave intravascular lithotripsy appears to be a safe and effective therapeutic bail-out option for the management of highly calcified coronary artery lesions. Despite, these initial favorable outcomes, carrying out a large number of studies with long-term observations is still necessary in order to establish the potential benefits and shortcomings of rota-lithotripsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcified lesions of coronary arteries still represent a major challenge in interventional cardiology. The sign is advanced atherosclerosis, associated with multivessel disease and the presence of complex lesions, including long lesions, chronic total occlusions, and bifurcations. Today, there are several strategies for modifying calcified lesions before percutaneous coronary intervention. They can be divided into strategies without atherectomy and strategies with atherectomy. Non-atherectomy strategies include modification balloons and intravascular lithotripsy. Atherectomy strategies are aimed at physical plaque removal and include rotary atherectomy, coronary orbital atherectomy, and laser coronary atherectomy. Rotational atherectomy is an endovascular procedure during which plaque ablation occurs by advancing a rotating abrasive burr. The use of rotational atherectomy in severely calcified lesions is associated with greater dilatation of vessel diameter, larger lumen cross-section, and fewer final residual stenoses after stent implantation. Heavily calcified ostial and bifurcation lesions are more demanding for percutaneous intervention, with frequent complications such as plaque transfer, acute side branch occlusion, and suboptimal stent apposition or expansion. In such cases, interventions with modification of the calcified plaque with the use of rotational atherectomy have been shown to be more successful, whether only the main branch or both the main and side branches are treated. This paper presents a patient with a calcified lesion of the ostium of the anterior descending artery who refused cardiosurgical revascularization and in whom the initial percutaneous coronary intervention was not successfully performed. After that, percutaneous coronary intervention was performed using rotary atherectomy. An optimal angiographic result with normal coronary flow was obtained. The patient was discharged after the intervention without complications. Carefully performed rotational atherectomy can be successfully used in the treatment of demanding calcified lesions of the ostial segments of the coronary arteries with a high degree of effectiveness and safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Severely calcified lesions are the most significant challenge for percutaneous coronary intervention, exhibiting poor clinical outcomes. Some severely calcified lesions remain untreatable with conventional balloons or even atherectomy devices. Intravascular lithotripsy is a new option for treating severe calcification., Case Summary: Herein, we describe a case of ischaemic cardiomyopathy with a thick, circumferential calcified lesion in the proximal and mid-segments of the left anterior descending coronary artery. In the first session, high-pressure balloons, cutting balloons, and rotational atherectomy failed to disrupt the calcification. In the staged additional treatment that was subsequently planned, eight cycles of intravascular lithotripsy created multiple fractures in the deep calcification, resulting in successful stent deployment. The effect of intravascular lithotripsy was observed mainly in calcified areas with lipid components detected using near-infrared spectroscopy-intravascular ultrasound., Discussion: Our report suggests the efficacy of employing a combined strategy of rotational atherectomy with small burrs and intravascular lithotripsy in the treatment of severe calcification with a minimal risk of complications. Our study introduces a novel aspect by utilizing near-infrared spectroscopy-intravascular ultrasound to evaluate calcified lesions before performing intravascular lithotripsy. To our knowledge, there have been no similar reports to date. The effect of intravascular lithotripsy on calcified lesions may be related to the distribution of lipid components and/or heterogeneity within the calcification., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: None declared, (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.)

Abstract Background To compare the effect and outcomes of optical coherence tomography (OCT)-guided rotational atherectomy (RA) with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided RA in the treatment of calcified coronary lesions. Methods Data of calcified coronary lesions treated with RA that underwent OCT-guided or IVUS-guided from January 2016 to December 2019 at a single-center registry were retrospectively analyzed. The effect and outcomes between underwent OCT-guided RA and IVUS-guided RA were compared. Results A total of 33 lesions in 32 patients received OCT-guided RA and 51 lesions in 47 patients received IVUS-guided RA. There was no significant difference between OCT-guided RA group and IVUS-guided RA group in clinical baselines characteristics. Comparing the procedural and lesions characteristics of the two groups, the contrast volume was larger [(348.8 ± 110.6) ml vs. (275.2 ± 76.8) ml, P = 0.002] and the scoring balloon was more frequently performed (33.3% vs. 3.9%, P = 0.001) after RA and before stenting in the OCT-guided RA group. Comparing the intravascular imaging findings of the two groups, stent expansion was significantly larger in the OCT-guided RA group ([82 ± 8]% vs. [75 ± 9]%, P = 0.001). Both groups achieved procedural success immediately. There were no significantly differences in the incidence of complications. Although there was no statistical difference in the occurrence of MACE at 1 year between OCT-guided RA group and IVUS-guided RA group (3.1% vs. 6.4%, P = 0.517), no cardiovascular death, TVR and stent thrombosis occurred in OCT-guided RA group. Conclusions OCT-guided RA compared to IVUS-guided RA for treating calcified coronary lesions resulted in better stent expansion and may have improved prognosis.

Background and Objectives: Available data with regard to the outcomes of patients with severely calcified left main (LM) lesions after revascularization by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) when compared to non-calcified LM lesions is unclear. Materials and Methods: The present study sought to retrospectively investigate in hospital and 1 year post-intervention outcomes of patients with extremely calcified LM lesions after PCI facilitated by calcium-dedicated devices (CdD). Seventy consecutive patients with LM PCI were included. CdD requirement was based on suboptimal results after balloon angioplasty. Results: Twenty-two patients (31.4%) required at least one CdD, while nine patients (12.8%) required at least two. Intravascular lithotripsy and rotational atherectomy were the predominantly used methods(59.1% and 40.9% respectively, for in-group ratios), while ultra-high pressure and scoring balloons contributed the least to lesion preparation (9%). In 20 patients (28.5%), severe or moderate calcifications were angiographically identified, but non-compliant balloon predilation was adequate and CdD were not necessary. Total procedural time was significantly higher in CdD group (p-value 0.02). Procedural and clinical success were obtained in 100% of cases. There were no major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) recorded during hospitalization. MACCE at 1 year post-procedure were recorded in three patients (4.2% overall). All three events were documented in the control group (6.2%), and no events were recorded in CdD group (p-value 0.23). There was one cardiac death at 10 months and two target lesion revascularizations for side-branch restenosis. Conclusions: Patients with extremely calcified LM lesions treated by PCI present a favorable prognosis if angioplasty is facilitated by more aggressive lesion debulking using calcium-dedicated devices.

Radial artery is the preferred access site in contemporary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, limited data exist regarding utilization pattern, safety, and long-term efficacy of transradial artery access (TRA) PCI in heavily calcified lesions using high-speed rotational atherectomy (HSRA). All patients who underwent HSRA-PCI in Sweden between 2005 and 2016 were included. Outcomes were major adverse cardiac events (MACE, including death, myocardial infarction (MI) or target vessel revascularisation (TVR)), in-hospital bleeding and restenosis. Inverse probability of treatment weighting was used to adjust for the non-randomized access site selection. We included 1479 patients of whom 649 had TRA and 782 transfemoral artery access (TFA) HSRA-PCI. The rate of TRA increased significantly by 18% per year but remained lower in HSRA-PCI (60%) than in the overall PCI population (85%) in 2016. TRA was associated with comparable angiographic success but significantly lower risk for major (adjusted OR 0.16; 95% CI 0.05–0.47) or any in-hospital bleeding (adjusted OR 0.32; 95% CI 0.13–0.78). At one year, the adjusted risk for MACE (HR 0.87; 95% CI 0.67–1.13) and its individual components did not differ between TRA and TFA patients. The risk for restenosis did not significantly differ between TRA and TFA HSRA-PCI treated lesions (adjusted HR 0.92; 95% CI 0.46–1.81). HSRA-PCI by TRA was associated with significantly lower risk for in-hospital bleeding and equivalent long-term efficacy when compared with TFA. Our data support the feasibility and superior safety profile of TRA in HSRA-PCI. • In patients undergoing rotational atherectomy, the use of transradial access site has increased. • Radial artery resulted in similar angiographic success with femoral artery. • But radial artery was associated with significantly lower risk for bleeding. • Radial artery was associated with similar long-term efficacy compared to femoral artery. • Radial artery should be the preferable access site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Whereas the efficacy and safety of intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) have been confirmed in de novo calcified coronary lesions, little is known about its utility in treating stent underexpansion. This study aimed to investigate the impact of IVL in treating stent underexpansion. Methods and Results: Consecutive patients with stent underexpansion treated with IVL entered the multicenter IVL-Dragon Registry. The procedural success (primary efficacy endpoint) was defined as a relative stent expansion >80%. Thirty days device-oriented composite endpoint (DOCE) (defined as a composite of cardiac death, target lesion revascularization, or target vessel myocardial infarction) was the secondary endpoint. A total of 62 patients were enrolled. The primary efficacy endpoint was achieved in 72.6% of patients. Both stent underexpansion 58.5% (47.5–69.7) vs. 11.4% (5.8–20.7), p < 0.001, and the stenotic area 82.6% (72.4–90.8) vs. 21.5% (11.1–37.2), p < 0.001, measured by quantitative coronary angiography improved significantly after IVL. Intravascular imaging confirmed increased stent expansion following IVL from 37.5% (16.0–66.0) to 86.0% (69.2–90.7), p < 0.001, by optical coherence tomography and from 57.0% (31.5–77.2) to 89.0% (85.0–92.0), p = 0.002, by intravascular ultrasound. Secondary endpoint occurred in one (1.6%) patient caused by cardiac death. There was no target lesion revascularization or target vessel myocardial infarction during the 30-day follow-up. Conclusions: In this real-life, largest-to-date analysis of IVL use to manage underexpanded stent, IVL proved to be an effective and safe method for facilitating stent expansion and increasing luminal gain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cutting balloons are commonly used for the preparation of calcified lesions, but problems with crossability occasionally limit the use of these balloons. A novel cutting balloon was recently developed and reported to have improved crossability in clinical settings. However, the predictors of its unsuccessful crossing have been unclear. The aims of this study were to examine the delivery success rate and to identify the predictors of unsuccessful crossing with the novel cutting balloon. Methods and Results: We prospectively enrolled 502 calcified lesions treated with the novel Wolverine cutting balloon under the guidance of either intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) or optical coherence tomography (OCT). The primary study outcome was the balloon delivery success, which we defined as successful crossing to the target lesion immediately after the IVUS or OCT evaluation. A multivariate analysis evaluated the independent predictors for unsuccessful crossing. The balloon delivery success rate was 92.4%. The multivariate analysis showed that non-left anterior descending (non-LAD) lesions (odd ratio [OR] 2.27, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09-4.71, p = 0.028) and previous history of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (OR 2.46, 95% CI: 1.09-5.53, p = 0.029) were the independent predictors for unsuccessful crossing. Conclusion: The Wolverine cutting balloon demonstrated high crossability. However, we should device its usage for non-LAD lesions and patients with a previous history of PCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prognostic implications of cardiac troponin elevation after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with atherectomy have not been established. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of periprocedural myocardial injury (PMI) and its association with cardiovascular events in patients with severely calcified lesions who underwent PCI with atherectomy. The study analyzed 346 patients (377 lesions) who underwent PCI with atherectomy between January 2018 and December 2021. Peak post-PCI high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) was measured. The primary outcome was target lesion failure (TLF), a composite of cardiovascular death, target vessel myocardial infarction, and clinically driven target lesion revascularization. A lesion-based analysis was conducted to assess the association of PMI with TLF up to 5 years after PCI. Increase of hs-cTn was seen with 362 lesions (96%), and significant PMI, defined as hs-cTn increase ≥70 × upper reference limit, was seen with 83 lesions (22%). Significant PMI was associated with a significantly greater risk of TLF (adjusted hazard ratio 1.93, 95% confidence interval 1.12 to 3.30, p = 0.017), primarily driven by an increased risk of cardiovascular death (adjusted hazard ratio 5.29, 95% confidence interval 1.46 to 19.16, p = 0.011). In conclusion, hs-cTn increase was frequently observed in patients who underwent PCI with atherectomy, and significant PMI was associated with an increased risk of TLF and cardiovascular death., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no competing interests to declare., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Percutaneous transluminal rotational atherectomy (PTRA) is one of the most used techniques to facilitate percutaneous coronary intervention in heavily calcified coronary lesion (CCL). Coronary aneurysms (CAs) are detected in 1.2-4.9% of coronary angiogram. The presence of CA and CCL is infrequent but not rare, where the use of PTRA may be mandatory despite the high risk. After a complex procedure of PTRA in a CCL with CA we decided to investigate about this particular condition. We identified a total of six patients among 174 consecutive percutaneous coronary intervention (3.4%). All the procedures showed good stent expansion in the absence of major complications, such as no-reflow or coronary perforation. Cardiovascular death, rehospitalization for myocardial infarction and target lesion failure were not reported at follow-up (252 ± 152 days). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Heavily calcified lesions in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) still represent a challenging subset for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Rota-lithotripsy—a marriage of rotational atherectomy and intravascular lithotripsy—has recently been introduced to clinical practice as a novel therapeutic option. Methods: This study is among the to present the 6-month clinical outcomes of rota-lithotripsy when performed in the ACS setting. The study cohort consisted of 15 consecutive ACS patients who underwent a rota-lithotripsy-PCI due to the presence of a highly calcified, undilatable lesion. Results: The procedural success ratio reached 100%. During the 6-month follow-up, in two of the patients, instances of MACE (major adverse cardiac events) occurred, including one fatal event. Additionally, during the observation period, one target lesion failure, due to subacute stent thrombosis, was identified. Conclusions: Rotational atherectomy with the subsequent use of shockwave intravascular lithotripsy appears to be a safe and effective therapeutic bail-out option for the management of highly calcified coronary artery lesions. Despite, these initial favorable outcomes, carrying out a large number of studies with long-term observations is still necessary in order to establish the potential benefits and shortcomings of rota-lithotripsy.

Purpose of review: Calcified peripheral arterial disease (PAD) poses a significant challenge to endovascular treatment. Traditional balloon angioplasty in these restrictive lesions often leads to suboptimal vessel expansion and thereby increased rates of restenosis and complications. Although several calcium-modifying and debulking technologies have been developed to help optimize management of these complex lesions, they have their own limitations. Recently, intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) has been established as an alternative versatile modality for treating a variety of lesions with minimal adverse events. Herein, we undertake a review of the currently available literature to further assess the safety and efficacy of IVL in PAD. Recent findings: DISRUPT PAD I, II, III, and BTK are dedicated global clinical trials undertaken to study the safety and efficacy of IVL in calcified PAD. Their results demonstrated significant improvement in lumen gain and low rates of adverse events. Summary: IVL is an innovative modality developed to improve the treatment success of calcified PAD with a favorable safety and efficacy profile across multiple clinical studies. Further larger scale studies are warranted to confirm durability of these results and directly compare IVL against presently available calcium-modifying agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To compare the effect and outcomes of optical coherence tomography (OCT)-guided rotational atherectomy (RA) with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided RA in the treatment of calcified coronary lesions.Methods: Data of calcified coronary lesions treated with RA that underwent OCT-guided or IVUS-guided from January 2016 to December 2019 at a single-center registry were retrospectively analyzed. The effect and outcomes between underwent OCT-guided RA and IVUS-guided RA were compared.Results: A total of 33 lesions in 32 patients received OCT-guided RA and 51 lesions in 47 patients received IVUS-guided RA. There was no significant difference between OCT-guided RA group and IVUS-guided RA group in clinical baselines characteristics. Comparing the procedural and lesions characteristics of the two groups, the contrast volume was larger [(348.8 ± 110.6) ml vs. (275.2 ± 76.8) ml, P = 0.002] and the scoring balloon was more frequently performed (33.3% vs. 3.9%, P = 0.001) after RA and before stenting in the OCT-guided RA group. Comparing the intravascular imaging findings of the two groups, stent expansion was significantly larger in the OCT-guided RA group ([82 ± 8]% vs. [75 ± 9]%, P = 0.001). Both groups achieved procedural success immediately. There were no significantly differences in the incidence of complications. Although there was no statistical difference in the occurrence of MACE at 1 year between OCT-guided RA group and IVUS-guided RA group (3.1% vs. 6.4%, P = 0.517), no cardiovascular death, TVR and stent thrombosis occurred in OCT-guided RA group.Conclusions: OCT-guided RA compared to IVUS-guided RA for treating calcified coronary lesions resulted in better stent expansion and may have improved prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severely calcified coronary lesions remain a challenge in current percutaneous coronary interventions. Shockwave intravascular lithotripsy (Shockwave Medical, Inc., Santa Clara, California) is an alternative for rotational atherectomy in such lesions that supports stent deliverability and achieves optimal results. We describe a case of coronary artery perforation after use of this lithotripsy device. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.)

Clinicians have long recognized that certain features of coronary artery lesions increase the complexity of intervention. Complex lesions are associated with worse cardiovascular outcomes and a higher risk of subsequent ischemic events. These lesions are categorized by their angiographic features. These features include bifurcation lesions, left main coronary artery disease, calcified lesions, in-stent restenosis, chronic total occlusions and graft interventions. This two-part review aims to highlight the current evidence in the percutaneous management of these lesions. Part one of this review focuses on the best techniques to treat bifurcation lesions, indications for intervention of left main coronary artery disease and additional tools used to treat calcified lesions.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the safety and effectiveness of intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) in treating eccentric calcified coronary lesions. Methods: Between December 2015 and March 2019, 180 patients were enrolled in the Disrupt CAD I and CAD II studies across 19 sites in 10 countries. Patient-level data were pooled from these two studies (n = 180), within which 47 eccentric lesions (26%) and 133 concentric lesions were identified. Results: Clinical success, defined as residual stenosis < 50% after stenting and no in-hospital MACE, was similar between the eccentric and concentric cohorts (93.6% vs. 93.2%, p = 1.0). There were no perforations, abrupt closure, slow flow or no reflow events observed in either group, and there were low rates of flow-limiting dissections (Grade D–F: 0% eccentric, 1.7% concentric; p = 0.54). Final acute gain and percent residual stenosis were similar between the two groups. Final residual stenosis of 8.6 ± 9.8% in eccentric and 10.0 ± 9.0% (p = 0.56) in concentric stenosis confirms the significant effect of IVL in calcified coronary lesions. Conclusion: In this first report from a pooled patient-level analysis of coronary IVL from the Disrupt CAD I and CAD II studies, IVL use was associated with consistent improvement in procedural and clinical outcomes in both eccentric and concentric calcified lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Dr. Spirito reports a relation with Swiss National Science Foundation that includes funding grants. Dr. Mehran reports a relation with Abbott Vascular Inc that includes funding grants; a relation with AstraZeneca that includes funding grants; and a relation with the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions that includes funding grants. The remaining authors have no competing interests to declare.

Vascular calcification is a hallmark of atherosclerosis and adds considerable challenges for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This review underscores the critical role of coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography in assessing and quantifying vascular calcification for optimal PCI planning. Severe calcification significantly impacts procedural outcomes, necessitating accurate preprocedural evaluation. We describe the potential of coronary CT for calcium assessment and how CT may enhance precision in device selection and procedural strategy. These advancements, along with the ongoing Precise Procedural and PCI Plan study, represent a transformative shift toward personalized PCI interventions, ultimately improving patient outcomes in the challenging landscape of calcified coronary lesions., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

Vascular calcification is a highly prevalent pathophenotype that is associated with aging, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease. When present, it portends a worse clinical outcome and predicts major adverse cardiovascular events. Heavily calcified coronary and peripheral artery lesions are difficult to dilate appropriately with conventional balloons during percutaneous intervention, and the use of several adjunctive strategies of plaque modification has been suggested. Intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) offers a novel option for lesion preparation of severely calcified plaques in coronary and peripheral vessels. It is unique among all technologies in its ability to modify calcium circumferentially and transmurally, thus modifying transmural conduit compliance. In this article, we summarize the currently available evidence on this technology, and we highlight its best clinical application through appropriate patient and lesion selection, with the main objective of optimizing stent delivery and implantation, and subsequent improved short- and long-term outcomes. We believe that the IVL balloon will transform the market, as it is easy to use, with predictable results. However, cost-effectiveness of such advanced technology will need to be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The use of shockwave lithotripsy for the treatment of heavily calcified atherosclerotic plaques before stenting showed great results in terms of feasibility and safety with favorable initial success. Evidence suggests that it is a useful tool to treat calcified lesions in peripheral and coronary arteries. Here, we describe the case of a patient with calcified renal artery stenosis successfully treated with the shockwave lithotripsy system. Case Report: We present a 76-year-old man with a known significant atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis and refractory hypertension. The patient received an angioplasty of the right renal artery in the first session and he was admitted for a second session to intervene in the left renal artery. The lesion was successfully treated with the lithotripsy system. Final angiography demonstrated an excellent position of the stent and good wall apposition. Conclusion: Our clinical case demonstrates that lithotripsy is safe and effective also for the treatment of the renal artery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: In peripheral artery disease (PAD), endovascular treatment success of heavily calcified lesions is often compromised by a number of vascular complications, such as recoils, dissections and need for target vessel re-interventions. The increasing use of scoring balloon techniques has raised the hope for better periprocedural outcomes; however, the knowledge regarding the actual benefits of the scoring balloon technique in comparison to standard therapy is still limited. Thus, the aim of the current study was to determine the safety and effectiveness of scoring balloon angioplasty in a real-life patients' collective with PAD. Methods and Results: A total of 425 patients with moderate to severely calcified femoropopliteal lesions received interventional treatment between 2011 and 2018 at the single center; 230 received a treatment with a scoring balloon (AngioSculpt™), and 195 received a plain procedure without AngioSculpt™. Key questions of this analysis were: (1) whether AngioSculpt™ can be used as a safe and effective stand-alone treatment in heavily calcified lesions in a 24-month follow-up, as well as (2) whether target lesion preparation with scoring balloon bears additional benefits to standard treatment (PTA ± stent implantation). In terms of freedom from target lesion revascularization there were no significant differences between AngioSculpt™ and standard procedure (82.3% vs. 78.1%, P > 0.05). Vessel preparation with balloon angioplasty had no additional effects on survival and amputation rates in comparison to standard treatment without AngioSculpt™ (P > 0.05). The deployment of a scoring balloon did not reduce the subsequent need for additional stent implantations (32.6%, and 32.3%, P > 0.05). Conclusion: Lesion preparation with AngioSculpt™ scoring balloon represents a safe and effective tool in the treatment of complex femoropopliteal lesions. In this retrospective analysis, AngioSculpt™ scoring balloon angioplasty did not significantly improve vessel patency- both when used as an adjunctive in preparation for stenting and as stand-alone treatment. A prospective study is needed to further investigate the scoring balloon treatment options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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.Methods and Results: We treated five patients with IVL of the aortic arch vessels, including the carotid (2), subclavian (2), and innominate arteries. Four of the five patients underwent successful IVL treatment and intervention without complications. One patient (carotid intervention) developed acute right eye blindness post-procedure, thought to be due to an embolic plaque, which was successfully treated with tissue plasminogen activator and intravenous heparin.Conclusion: IVL offers promising technology to facilitate the treatment of complex lesions in the vessels of the aortic arch. We do not promote the use of IVL but promote prospective clinical trials to assess the safety and efficacy of this technology in this vascular territory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: B-Laser™ is a novel atherectomy device that uses a solid-state third harmonic pulsed Nd:YAG laser with an output of 355 nm. Early data showed that the B-Laser™ is safe in treating a broad range of infrainguinal arterial lesions. We present the results of the EX-PAD-03 U.S. pivotal trial of the EXIMO B-Laser™.Methods: EX-PAD-03 is a prospective, single-arm, multi-center, international, open-label, clinical study. The study enrolled patients in the United States and Europe. The primary efficacy endpoint was the average reduction in residual diameter stenosis of >20% from baseline prior to any adjunctive therapy achieved by the B-Laser™ catheter alone. The primary safety endpoint was freedom from major adverse events (MAEs) defined as: unplanned target limb amputation above the ankle, clinically driven target lesion revascularization (CD-TLR) and cardiovascular related death.Results: A total of 97 subjects (107 lesions) were enrolled. Mean age was 70.5 years and 51% were males. Diabetes mellitus was present in 42.3%. Mean lesion length was 53.96 ± 43.18 mm and 26.2% had severe calcification. Lesions were de novo (79.4%), followed by in-stent restenosis (ISR) (15.9%) and non in-stent restenosis (4.7%). The mean percent stenosis at the target lesion as assessed by the Core lab was 85.7% ± 12.2 (femoro-popliteal 85.6 ± 12.8%; tibials 86.0 ± 9.6%). Post B-Laser™ and prior to adjunctive therapy, the mean percent stenosis at the target lesion was 52.1%. This resulted in a mean reduction from baseline to post B-Laser™ of 33.6% ± 14.2% meeting the primary efficacy endpoint goal. The freedom from MAE through the 30-day follow-up period after intervention was 98.9%. Per Core lab, there was no device-related distal embolization, dissections that required additional therapy, perforation, or pseudoaneurysm. Bailout stenting was 0.9%. A significant improvement from baseline in ABI (0.24 ± 0.18), Rutherford category (-1.79 ± 1.22) and WIQ (0.26 ± 0.28) were noted at 1 month. There was no target lesion revascularization and the patency was 96.8% by duplex ultrasound criteria at 30-day follow up.Conclusion: The Eximo B-Laser™ is effective and safe in ablating atherosclerotic and restenotic tissue for both above and below the knee obstructive arterial disease. The device has a high safety profile including a low risk of distal embolization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavily calcified and densely fibrotic coronary lesions continue to represent a challenge for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), as they are difficult to dilate, and it is difficult to deliver and implant drug-eluting stents (DES) properly. Poor stent deployment is associated with high rates of periprocedural complications and suboptimal long-term clinical outcomes. Thanks to the introduction of several adjunctive PCI tools, like cutting and scoring balloons, atherectomy devices, and to the novel intravascular lithotripsy technology, the treatment of such lesions has become increasingly feasible, predictable and safe. A step-wise progression of strategies is described for coronary plaque modification, from well-recognised techniques to techniques that should only be considered when standard manoeuvres have proven unsuccessful. We highlight these techniques in the setting of clinical examples how best to apply them through better patient and lesion selection, with the main objective of optimising DES delivery and implantation, and subsequent improved outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Coronary bifurcation and calcified lesions account for 15-20% and 6%-20% of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI), respectively. Treatment of these lesions is associated with high periprocedural complication rates and unfavorable long-term clinical outcomes, including high rates of revascularization. This retrospective, single-center study evaluated the outcomes of atherectomy treatment for heavily calcified coronary bifurcation lesions.Methods: Patients who underwent a coronary atherectomy procedure to treat a heavily calcified lesion between January 2010 and March 2016 at Metropolitan Heart and Vascular Institute (Minneapolis, MN) were included in this retrospective study. Data were stratified to compare atherectomy treatment of coronary bifurcation lesions vs non-bifurcation lesions. Additionally, data were compared based on type of atherectomy utilized during the index procedure, either orbital (OAS) or rotational (RA) atherectomy. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE), defined as a composite of death, myocardial infarction (MI), and target vessel revascularization (TVR), were assessed at 30 days post-procedure.Results: Among the 177 patients treated with atherectomy, 72 patients had bifurcation lesions. Compared to patients with non-bifurcation lesions, patients with bifurcation lesions were more likely to have a history of prior PCI or coronary artery bypass grafting. Bifurcation lesions required a higher volume of contrast. There were similar low rates of slow flow/no-reflow (2.8% bifurcations vs 1.0% non-bifurcation; p = 0.355). The 30-day rates of death (1.4% vs 1.9%; p = 0.794), MI (0% vs 0%; p = NA), and TVR (0% vs 1.0%; p = 0.406) were similar in patients with bifurcation lesions versus those without, respectively. An atherectomy sub-analysis (OAS vs RA) of the patients with bifurcation lesions showed that OAS utilization was associated with shorter procedure time (81 min vs 109 min; p = 0.026) and fluoroscopy time (18 min vs 27 min; p = 0.007) compared to RA, respectively-no significant differences in baseline demographic or lesion characteristics were noted in the bifurcation atherectomy sub-groups, except for higher beta/calcium blocker use in RA bifurcation subjects.Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrated that atherectomy treatment in patients with heavily calcified coronary bifurcation lesions is feasible, resulting in similar low 30-day MACE rates as compared to patients with non-bifurcation lesions. In addition, in this study OAS utilization versus RA in bifurcation lesions was associated with significantly shorter procedure and fluoroscopy time. Further studies are needed to assess the safety and efficacy of atherectomy in patients with severely calcified bifurcation lesions.Summary For Annotated Table Of Contents: This retrospective, single-center study evaluated the outcomes of orbital and rotational atherectomy treatment for heavily calcified coronary bifurcation lesions as compared to non-bifurcation lesions. The results demonstrate that atherectomy treatment in patients with heavily calcified coronary bifurcation lesions is feasible, resulting in similarly low 30-day MACE rates as compared to patients with non-bifurcation lesions. In addition, in this study OAS utilization versus RA in bifurcation lesions was associated with significantly shorter procedure and fluoroscopy time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies suggest that cardiorespiratory dysfunction likely contributes to sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Seizures result in autonomic and respiratory dysfunction, leading to sympathetic hyperactivity and respiratory distress, including apnea. While the heart is vulnerable to catecholamine surges and hypoxia, it remains unknown if repetitive generalized seizures lead to cardiac damage. DBA/1 mice exhibit seizure-induced respiratory arrest (S-IRA) following generalized audiogenic seizures (AGS), which can be resuscitated using a rodent ventilator. In the current study, we induced different numbers of S-IRA episodes in DBA/1 mice and determined the association of repeated S-IRA induction with cardiac damage using histology. After repetitive induction of 18 S-IRA, calcified lesions, as revealed by calcium (Ca2+)-specific alizarin red staining, were observed in the ventricular myocardium in 61.5% of DBA/1 mice, which was higher compared to mice with 5 S-IRA and 1 S-IRA as well as age-matched untested control mice. The incidence of lesions in mice with 9 S-IRA was only higher than that of control mice. Only 1–2, small lesions were observed in mice with 5 S-IRA and 1 S-IRA and in control mice. Larger lesions (> 2500 μm2) were observed in mice with 9 and 18 S-IRA. The incidence of larger lesions was higher in mice with 18 S-IRA (53.8%) as compared to mice with 5 S-IRA and 1 S-IRA as well as with control mice, and the incidence of larger lesions in mice with 9 S-IRA was only higher than that of control mice. Repeated induction of S-IRA in DBA/1 mice can result in calcified necrotic lesions in the ventricles of the heart, and their incidence and size are dependent on the total number of S-IRA. • The effect of repeated seizures on the heart is unknown. • Repeated generalized seizures lead to cardiac damage. • The occurrence and size of cardiac lesions are dependent on the number of generalized seizures. • Seizure-induced cardiac lesions are calcified. • Repeated generalized seizures engender structural injury in the heart. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcified coronary plaque (CCP) represents a challenging scenario for interventional cardiologists. Stent underexpansion (SU), often associated with CCP, can predispose to stent thrombosis and in-stent restenosis. To date, SU with heavily CCP can be addressed using very high-/high-pressure noncompliant balloons, off-label rotational atherectomy/orbital atherectomy, excimer laser atherectomy, and intravascular lithotripsy (IVL). In this meta-analysis, we investigated the success rate of IVL for the treatment of SU because of CCP. Studies and case-based experiences reporting on the use of IVL strategy for treatment of SU were included. The primary end point was IVL strategy success, defined as the adequate expansion of the underexpanded stent. A metanalysis was performed for the main focuses to calculate the proportions of procedural success rates with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Random-effects models weighted by inverse variance were used because of clinical heterogeneity. This meta-analysis included 13 studies with 354 patients. The mean age was 71.3 years (95% CI 64.9 to 73.1), and 77% (95% CI 71.2% to 82.4%) were male. The mean follow-up time was 2.6 months (95% CI 1 to 15.3). Strategy success was seen in 88.7% (95% CI 82.3 to 95.1) of patients. The mean minimal stent area was reported in 6 studies, the pre-IVL value was 3.4 mm 2 (95% CI 3 to 3.8), and the post-IVL value was 6.9 mm 2 (95% CI 6.5 to 7.4). The mean diameter stenosis (percentage) was reported in 7 studies, the pre-IVL value was 69.4% (95% CI 60.7 to 78.2), and the post-IVL value was 14.6% (95% CI 11.1 to 18). The rate of intraprocedural complications was 1.6% (95% CI 0.3 to 2.9). In conclusion, the "stent-through" IVL plaque modification technique is a safe tool to treat SU caused by CCP, with a high success rate and a very low incidence of complications., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have no competing interests to declare., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We sought to clarify intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) features of rotational atherectomy (RA) of calcified lesions. IVUS was performed post-RA and post-stent in 38 lesions and analyzed every 1 mm. Pre-intervention IVUS was performed when the IVUS catheter crossed the lesion (n = 11). Calcium Index was average calcium angle multiplied by calcium length. We compared lowest (n = 13), middle (n = 13), and highest (n = 12) Calcium Index tertiles. Reverberations (multiple reflections from calcium) with a concave-shaped lumen in the post-RA IVUS were considered to represent RA-related calcium modification. Newly visible perivascular tissue through a previously solid arc of calcium in the post-stent IVUS was also evaluated. Comparing the pre and post-RA IVUS, maximum reverberation angle, and length increased significantly after RA (angle, from 45° [31, 67] to 96° [50, 148], p = 0.003; length, from 4.0 mm [2.0, 6.0] to 8.0 mm [4.0, 14.0], p = 0.005). In the post-RA IVUS, reverberations had a larger angle in the middle and highest Calcium Index tertiles (lowest, 91° [64, 133]; middle, 135° [107, 201]; highest, 150° [93, 208], p = 0.03). Post-stent newly visible perivascular tissue was more frequent in the middle and highest Calcium Index tertiles (lowest, 30.8%; middle, 69.2%; highest, 75.0%, p = 0.049). Minimum stent area was similar after calcium modification by RA irrespective of the severity of the Calcium Index (lowest, 6.7 mm2 [5.7, 8.9]; middle, 5.6 mm2 [4.9, 6.8]; highest, 6.7 mm2 [5.9, 8.2], p = 0.2). Greater calcium modification by RA occurs in severely calcified lesions with smaller lumen diameters to mitigate against stent underexpansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavily calcified lesions are encountered with increasing frequency during percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). This poses a significant problem as it often leads to suboptimal stent expansion, which in turn is a major cause for stent restenosis and thrombosis. Various technologies have been developed to tackle this. The high-pressure balloon (OPN) seems to be a promising adjunct in treating undilatable lesions. In this concise mini review we highlight the use of HPB and we present the current status of technology implemented in complex PCI cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background There is limited data on the impact of calcium (Ca) on acute procedural and clinical outcomes in patients with lesions treated with bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BRS). We sought to evaluate the effect of calcium on procedural and clinical outcomes in a ‘real world’ population. Methods Clinical outcomes were compared between patients with at least 1 moderately or heavily calcified lesion (Ca) and patients with no/mild calcified lesions (non-Ca) enrolled in our institutional BRS registry. Results 455 patients (N) with 548 lesions (L) treated with 735 BRS were studied. Patients in the Ca group (N = 160, L = 200) had more complex (AHA B2/C lesion: 69.0% in Ca vs 14.9% in non-Ca, p < 0.001) and significantly longer lesions (27.80 ± 15.27 vs 19.48 ± 9.92 mm, p < 0.001). Overall device success rate was 99.1% with no significant differences between the groups. Despite more aggressive lesion preparation and postdilation compared to non Ca, acute lumen gain was significantly less in Ca lesions (1.50 ± 0.66 vs 1.62 ± 0.69 mm, p = 0.040) with lower final MLD (2.28 ± 0.41 vs 2.36 ± 0.43, p = 0.046). There were no significant differences in all-cause mortality, total definite scaffold thrombosis (ST), target lesion revascularization and myocardial infarction between the 2 groups. Late ST was more frequent in the Ca group compared to non Ca group (late ST: 2.1 vs 0%, p = 0.02). Conclusions Clinical outcomes after BRS implantation in calcified and non-calcified lesions were similar. A remarkable difference in timing of thrombosis was observed, with an increased rate of late thrombosis in calcified lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]