Contemporary tools and devices for coronary calcium modification

Vascular Calcification: Where is the Cure?

With the progress of aging, the incidence of vascular calcification (VC) gradually increases, which is correlated with cardiovascular events and all-cause death, aggravating global clinical burden. Over the past several decades, accumulating approaches targeting the underlying pathogenesis of VC have provided some possibilities for the treatment of VC. Unfortunately, none of the current interventions have achieved clinical effectiveness on reversing or curing VC. The purpose of this review is to make a summary of novel perspectives on the interventions of VC and provide reference for clinical decision-making.

Consensus of National Heart Center and the Saudi Arabian Cardiac Interventional Society on the Current Landscape of the Management of Intracoronary Calcification in Saudi Arabia

Objectives

We aimed to develop a streamlined algorithm for the management of intracoronary calcification that includes guidance on intracoronary imaging and the appropriate selection of atherectomy devices.

Methods

National experts representing both the National Heart Center (NHC) and the Saudi Arabian Cardiac Interventional Society (SACIS) met to develop a consensus document on the assessment and management of intracoronary calcification in Saudi Arabia. The nominal group technique was utilized; a number of statements on the assessment and management of coronary artery calcification were developed based on a systematic review of the literature. The authors discussed the developed statements until a consensus was reached.

Results

Twenty statements were discussed and agreed upon. Invasive and non-invasive imaging modalities in the assessment of coronary artery calcification, and management of intracoronary calcification using calcium ablation techniques, excimer laser coronary atherectomy, ballon-based techniques, and shockwave lithotripsy; were all thoroughly discussed in light of scientific evidence and the experts' clinical practice.

Conclusions

We present a national consensus on the assessment and the multifaceted management of intracoronary calcification in Saudi Arabia.

Contemporary Management of Severely Calcified Coronary Lesions

Coronary artery calcification is increasingly prevalent in our patient population. It significantly limits the procedural success of percutaneous coronary intervention and is associated with a higher risk of adverse cardiovascular events both in the short-term and long-term. There are several modalities for modifying calcified plaque, such as balloon angioplasty (including specialty balloons), coronary atheroablative therapy (rotational, orbital, and laser atherectomy), and intravascular lithotripsy. We discuss each modality’s relative advantages and disadvantages and the data supporting their use. This review also highlights the importance of intravascular imaging to characterize coronary calcification and presents an algorithm to tailor the calcium modification therapy based on specific coronary lesion characteristics.