intravascular lithotripsy
Pronunciation: LITH-oh-trip-see
A novel technique using sonic pressure waves to fracture calcium deposits within coronary arteries during percutaneous intervention.
Full Definition
Intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) is an innovative technology that employs sonic pressure waves to selectively fracture calcium deposits within arterial walls while preserving soft tissue structures. The technique utilizes a specialized balloon catheter containing lithotripsy emitters that generate localized acoustic energy when activated. IVL is particularly effective for heavily calcified coronary lesions that are difficult to treat with conventional balloon angioplasty or require aggressive preparation before stent deployment. The technology offers advantages over rotational atherectomy in certain anatomical situations and has shown promise in improving procedural success rates for complex calcified disease.
Usage
Usage note: IVL is the standard abbreviation; distinguish from extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy used for kidney stones.
In Context
- "Intravascular lithotripsy successfully modified the heavily calcified lesion prior to stent deployment." — Procedural report
- "The team selected intravascular lithotripsy over atherectomy for the circumferentially calcified target vessel." — Device selection