Shockwave Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL) treats patients who have problematic calcium in their arteries, which can reduce blood flow to the heart.
Plaque in the arteries may evolve into calcium deposits, or lesions, which can narrow the artery and make it more difficult to treat. Calcium deposits can result in complications for patients who are undergoing stent procedures to open their arteries. Of the approximately 1 million patients who undergo a stent procedure each year, 30 percent of those patients have problematic calcium that increases their risk for adverse events.
Shockwave IVL is a powerful treatment that can effectively clear the arteries of calcium deposits, restoring proper blood flow.
What is Shockwave Intravascular Lithotripsy?
Shockwave IVL is a minimally invasive procedure that allows
physicians to safely break up problematic calcium deposits through the use of sonic pressure waves. With this technology, the artery can be expanded, and blood flow is restored with the placement of a stent and without unnecessary complications.
The Shockwave technology is a newer application of lithotripsy, an approach that has been used for decades to safely break up kidney stones.
How Does the Shockwave Procedure Work?
Shockwave therapy is administered by using the standard technique of delivering a catheter and inflating a balloon to a low pressure. Sonic pressure waves are then activated using lithotripsy to crack calcium in the artery wall. The balloon can then be expanded to prepare the artery for the delivery of a stent.
Get Started at Valley
To find out if the Shockwave intravascular lithotripsy procedure is right for the treatment of your heart disease, contact your physician or call 1-800-VALLEY 1 (1-800-825-5391).
