Intravascular Calcification (IVL)

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), which dilates narrowed coronary arteries using balloon catheters or stents, is an important treatment for angina pectoris and myocardial infarction. However, as arteriosclerosis progresses, calcification (calcium deposits) can occur, making dilation impossible. At our hospital, we perform PCI treatments using diamond drills such as rotablators and diamondbacks, but we must be careful of complications such as blood vessel rupture and plaque obstruction to blood flow. In recent years, a new treatment method has become available to address the aforementioned issues: shockwave catheter treatment (intravascular calcification lithotripsy, IVL). This treatment uses shock waves to fragment calcified lesions from within the blood vessel. Our hospital has received facility certification and began treatment in January 2024. We hope that using this catheter will enable us to provide safer and more effective treatment to more people than ever before.