20/11/2025
It is amazing how the balloon 🎈 technology has evolved in coronary angioplasty to dilate the arteries before the optimal implantation of drug eluding stents or drug eluding balloons.
Calcium (hardened plaques in arteries) remain the most challenging to overcome. Thick deposits (yellow outline) require substantial pressure to effect cracks to break them.
Drills (artherectomy) help shave the deposits to reduce the burden but do pose risks to patients.
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Dr Pinakin recently performed coronary angioplasty in a heavily calcified artery in a frail patient using a novel balloon studded with metallic beads.
The multiple beads are meant to compress on the calcium under pressure to crack it (hard on hard concept).
A satisfying end result with no drills needed in this patient.
Innovations in Interventional Cardiology - more options for treatment and individualising procedural risks.
