Contemporary tools and devices for coronary calcium modification. (April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bulluck, Heerajnarain; McEntegart, Margaret
• Is Part Of: JRSM cardiovascular disease. Volume 11(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-04
• Subjects: Coronary artery disease -- calcium modification -- intravascular imaging -- calcium modifying adjuncts; Cardiovascular system -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.1005
• DOI: 10.1177/20480040221089760
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2048-0040

Abstract

With the aging population, up to a third of patients referred for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have moderate or severe calcified lesions assessed by coronary angiography. The presence of coronary calcium is associated with difficult device delivery, sub-optimal stent deployment, and prolonged procedures, with more complications. Furthermore, it is known that sub-optimal stent expansion is associated with poor clinical outcomes. In this manuscript we describe how to quantify the severity of coronary calcium, review the armamentarium of contemporary devices available for calcium modification, and provide a systematic approach to device selection, assessment of successful calcium modification, and stent optimization.