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Shockwave Therapy Clears Deadly Heart Artery Blockage
6 Oct
Summary
- Minimally invasive shockwave technique used on 76-year-old patient.
- Hardened calcium deposits in major artery were broken up safely.
- Advanced imaging confirmed excellent stent expansion post-procedure.
A 76-year-old woman with a severely calcified blockage in a major heart artery has been successfully treated using a novel, minimally invasive technique. The procedure involved using controlled shockwaves to break down hardened calcium deposits before a stent was implanted.
The patient presented with a significant narrowing in the proximal left anterior descending (LAD) artery, a critical blood vessel. Traditional angioplasty is often challenging in such cases due to calcium buildup preventing proper balloon expansion and stent deployment.
Doctors at Metro Hospital employed intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) with the Innvolution InnvoLith system. This specialized catheter delivers shockwaves to modify calcium, creating a better pathway for treatment. Following IVL, balloon angioplasty and stent placement were performed.
Advanced imaging, specifically optical coherence tomography (OCT), was used to confirm successful stent expansion. This technique is particularly beneficial for older patients with extensive arterial calcification, offering a less invasive alternative to open-heart surgery.
