IVL Treatment in Jaipur

Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL) offers several benefits in the treatment of heavily calcified coronary artery lesions and peripheral artery disease:

Improved Lesion Modification:

IVL effectively fractures calcified plaque within the artery walls, facilitating better lesion modification. This allows for more successful stent delivery and expansion, reducing the risk of incomplete stent apposition and restenosis.

Enhanced Procedural Success:

By addressing calcified lesions with IVL, interventional cardiologists can achieve better procedural success rates. The fragmentation of calcified plaque helps optimize stent deployment and ensures adequate lumen expansion, improving immediate and long-term outcomes.

Reduced Risk of Complications:

IVL is associated with a lower risk of procedural complications compared to other techniques for treating heavily calcified lesions, such as rotational atherectomy or high-pressure balloon angioplasty. This includes a decreased risk of vessel perforation, dissection, and distal embolization.

Preserved Vessel Integrity:

Unlike some other methods that can cause trauma to the vessel wall, IVL is designed to be less traumatic. It targets calcified plaque specifically, minimizing damage to the surrounding healthy tissue and preserving vessel integrity.

Broader Treatment Options:

IVL expands the treatment options available to interventional cardiologists when managing complex coronary and peripheral artery disease cases. It can be used as a standalone treatment or in combination with other techniques to optimize lesion preparation and stent implantation.

Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL) is performed primarily to address heavily calcified coronary artery lesions or peripheral artery disease that present challenges during percutaneous interventions. Calcified plaque buildup within the artery walls can impede proper stent delivery and expansion, leading to procedural complications and suboptimal outcomes.

IVL is employed to fracture and modify these calcified lesions, making them more amenable to stent deployment and ensuring adequate lumen expansion. By effectively treating calcified lesions, IVL helps improve procedural success rates, reduces the risk of complications such as vessel perforation, and preserves vessel integrity. Ultimately, IVL expands the treatment options available to interventional cardiologists and enhances the potential for better clinical outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous interventions for complex coronary or peripheral artery disease.

While Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL) is generally considered safe and effective, like any medical procedure, it carries certain risks. Some of the potential risks associated with IVL the Cardiologist in Jaipur will tell you include:

Vessel Injury:

There is a risk of vessel injury during IVL, including dissection, perforation, or rupture of the artery wall. This risk is typically higher in cases of heavily calcified or tortuous vessels.

Embolization:

Fragmentation of calcified plaque during IVL can lead to the release of debris into the bloodstream, potentially causing distal embolization. This may result in downstream blockages in smaller blood vessels, leading to ischemia or other complications.

Coronary Artery Spasm:

The mechanical forces exerted during IVL may trigger coronary artery spasm in some patients, leading to myocardial ischemia or infarction.

Arrhythmias:

IVL can sometimes induce arrhythmias, such as ventricular tachycardia or atrial fibrillation, particularly in patients with underlying cardiac conditions or electrolyte imbalances.

Vascular Access Complications:

Complications related to vascular access, such as hematoma formation, pseudoaneurysm, or arteriovenous fistula, can occur during the insertion and manipulation of IVL catheters.

The procedure of Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL) involves several steps:

Patient Preparation:

The patient is prepared for the procedure, which typically involves obtaining consent, reviewing medical history, and administering any necessary medications.

Access and Guidewire Placement:

A local anesthetic is administered, and a vascular access site, often the femoral or radial artery, is prepared. A specialized IVL catheter is then advanced over a guidewire to the target artery under fluoroscopic guidance.

Lesion Assessment:

Angiography is performed to visualize the calcified lesion within the artery. Intravascular imaging techniques such as intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) or optical coherence tomography (OCT) may also be used to assess lesion morphology and guide treatment planning.

Balloon Positioning:

Once the calcified lesion is identified, the IVL catheter is positioned proximal to the lesion site. The IVL catheter consists of a balloon with integrated lithotripsy emitters.

Lithotripsy Activation:

The IVL system is activated, delivering sonic pressure waves through the balloon emitters to the calcified plaque. These waves disrupt the calcium deposits, creating micro-fractures within the plaque while minimizing trauma to the surrounding vessel wall.

Balloon Dilatation (Optional):

Following lithotripsy treatment, balloon angioplasty may be performed to further dilate the artery and optimize lumen diameter. This step helps ensure adequate stent delivery and expansion.

Stent Placement:

If indicated, a stent is deployed to scaffold the treated segment of the artery and restore blood flow. The stent is positioned across the lesion site and expanded using balloon inflation.

Final Assessment:

Angiography is repeated to assess the results of the IVL treatment and confirm optimal stent deployment. Any residual stenosis or dissections are addressed as needed.

Closure and Post-procedural Care:

Once the procedure is complete, the IVL catheter is removed, and hemostasis is achieved at the vascular access site. The patient is monitored for a period to detect any complications and may be prescribed medications to prevent thrombosis or manage underlying cardiovascular conditions.