Efficacy of Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL) in peripheral lesions with severe calcification and its use in TAVI procedure: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Abstract Background Heavily calcified peripheral artery lesions increase the risk of vascular complications, constituting a severe challenge for the operator. Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL) technology disrupts subendothelial calcification by using localized pulsative sonic pressure waves and is a promising technique for patients with severe calcification in peripheral arteries. Purpose Our aim was to systematically review and summarize available data regarding the safety and efficacy of IVL in preparing severely calcified plaques in peripheral arteries and its use in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI). Methods This study was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. We systematically searched PubMed, SCOPUS, and Cochrane databases from their inception to February 23, 2023, for studies assessing the characteristics and outcomes of patients undergoing IVL in peripheral vasculature. The diameter of the vessel lumen before and after IVL was estimated. The occurrence peri-procedural complications were assessed using a random-effects model. Results 20 studies with a total of 1,223 patients with heavily calcified peripheral lesions were analyzed. The mean age of the cohort was 73.8 ± 8.9 years. Successful IVL delivery achieved in 100% (95% CI: 100%-100%, I2=0%), with an increase in the luminal diameter (SMD: 4.66, 95% CI: 3.41-5.92, I2=90.8%) and reduction in diameter stenosis (SMD: -4.15, 95% CI: -4.75 to -3.55, I2=92.8%), and a described low rate of complications. There was not observed any dissection in 97% (95% CI: 91%-100%, I2=81.4%), while dissections of any type (A, B, C, or D) were observed in 6% (95% CI: 2%-10%, I2=85.3%) of the patients. Several rare cases of abrupt closure, no-reflow phenomenon, perforation, thrombus formation, and distal embolization were recorded. Finally, the subgroup analysis of patients who underwent a TAVI with IVL assistance presented successful implantation in 100% (95% CI: 100%-100%, I2=0%) of the cases, with only 4% (95% CI: 0%-12%, I2=68.96%) presented dissections of any sort. Conclusions IVL seems to be an effective and safe technique for preparing severely calcified lesions in peripheral vessels during TAVI interventions. These results support the use of IVL for amelioration of overall outcome in high vascular risk TAVI settings.