Challenges and risks associated with coronary calcified lesions in cardiovascular interventions: What makes calcified lesions more challenging and dangerous?

Sophia Khattak; Farhan Shahid; Sohail Q. Khan; Sophia Khattak; Farhan Shahid; Sohail Q. Khan

doi:10.3934/medsci.2025006

AIMS Medical Science

2025, Volume 12, Issue 1: 69-89. doi: 10.3934/medsci.2025006

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Review Special Issues

Challenges and risks associated with coronary calcified lesions in cardiovascular interventions: What makes calcified lesions more challenging and dangerous?

1.
Department of Interventional Cardiology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, B15 2GW, UK
2.
Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK

Received: 06 July 2024 Revised: 25 December 2024 Accepted: 30 December 2024 Published: 05 March 2025

Calcified lesions pose significant challenges in cardiovascular interventions due to their complex nature and associated risks. These challenges range from accurate diagnosis to the modification of calcified areas using various techniques. Failing to adequately treat calcification can lead to suboptimal outcomes in coronary angioplasty, increasing the risk of complications such as stent thrombosis and in-stent restenosis. While various calcium modification techniques are available, they come with inherent risks, including vessel perforations and dissections. In this review article, we explored the difficulties associated with calcified lesions, categorizing them into access site issues, acute complications, and long-term complications. Understanding these challenges is important in improving patient outcomes.
- coronary calcification,
- coronary complications,
- perforation,
- stent thrombosis,
- in-stent restenosis,
- intracoronary imaging
Citation: Sophia Khattak, Farhan Shahid, Sohail Q. Khan. Challenges and risks associated with coronary calcified lesions in cardiovascular interventions: What makes calcified lesions more challenging and dangerous?[J]. AIMS Medical Science, 2025, 12(1): 69-89. doi: 10.3934/medsci.2025006

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Abstract

Calcified lesions pose significant challenges in cardiovascular interventions due to their complex nature and associated risks. These challenges range from accurate diagnosis to the modification of calcified areas using various techniques. Failing to adequately treat calcification can lead to suboptimal outcomes in coronary angioplasty, increasing the risk of complications such as stent thrombosis and in-stent restenosis. While various calcium modification techniques are available, they come with inherent risks, including vessel perforations and dissections. In this review article, we explored the difficulties associated with calcified lesions, categorizing them into access site issues, acute complications, and long-term complications. Understanding these challenges is important in improving patient outcomes.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

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