Contemporary approach to heavily calcified lesions: tools of the trade, challenges, and pitfalls

Abstract

Coronary artery calcifications (CAC) affect more than 90% of men and more than 67% of women older than 70; the spread is mainly due to the high occurrence of major cardiovascular risk factors. The presence of CAC can be detected by several noninvasive and invasive methods like computed tomography (CT), coronary angiography (CA), Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS), and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), with each system providing different information that can be used in the treatment strategy of CAC. Several devices can modify calcium during PCI: high-pressure non-compliant balloons, cutting/scoring balloons, atheroablative technologies, and intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL). Each technique has advantages and disadvantages that every interventional cardiologist should know to perform an optimal PCI and to achieve the best result and clinical outcome. This is a narrative review that aims to illustrate the contemporary management of CAC, focusing on the available techniques to assess calcifications and their novel advancements and explaining the existing tools to treat CAC with a focus on their significant challenges and pitfalls.