Mumbai doctors clear calcium buildup in diabetic patient's heart using IVL, avoid major surgery

Doctors at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai Central successfully carried out a complex coronary angioplasty on a 50-year-old male diabetic patient. Large calcium deposits had built up in the patient's coronary arteries, making treatment difficult. Doctors used an advanced technique called intravascular lithotripsy, or IVL, to address this.

The patient had been experiencing heart-related discomfort, and tests revealed heavy calcium deposits in the coronary arteries. Another complication was that blood flow through the leg arteries was insufficient for a catheter to be passed through by the conventional route, making treatment via the leg artery a major challenge for doctors.

Doctors say the likelihood of calcium deposits in coronary arteries increases with age and with long-standing diabetes. When calcium deposits build up excessively, the arteries become very hard, making standard angioplasty technically difficult and increasing the risk that the stent does not expand fully. Dr Parin Sangoi, consultant interventional cardiologist at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai Central, said heavily calcified coronary arteries are one of the biggest challenges in interventional cardiology. He said the calcium hardens the arteries to such an extent that it is not always possible to properly prepare the artery before placing a stent using conventional angioplasty.

Despite the complex structure of the arteries and insufficient blood flow through the leg, doctors successfully carried out the procedure through the radial artery in the wrist. The IVL technique was used to reduce the calcium deposits before the stent was placed, allowing the artery to be widened more effectively. Dr Sangoi said the IVL technique uses controlled sound wave pressure to break up the calcium deposits in the artery wall into microscopic fragments, making the artery more flexible and allowing the stent to be placed better. He said that with the right patient selection, this technique can be a good option in cases with heavy calcium deposits where conventional angioplasty is difficult.

The procedure was successful and blood flow through the affected coronary artery was restored to normal. The patient was in good condition after treatment and was discharged home in a stable condition. Dr Sangoi further said that new technology in interventional cardiology is now making it possible to clear complex blockages in coronary arteries, meaning high-risk surgery does not always have to be the only option.