Shockwave Technology at Sentara Healthcare Offers Complex Heart Patients Safer Outcomes
Sentara Healthcare recently introduced an exciting tool called, Shockwave Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL), to treat coronary artery calcification, a very common and challenging symptom in patients with advanced heart disease.
Coronary Artery Calcification is a calcium buildup or “plaque” within the walls of the arteries that supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart. Plaque in the arteries is the main cause of heart attacks. If a piece of plaque breaks off, a blood clot can form around it, blocking the flow of blood and the oxygen supply to your heart, creating a very dangerous situation for patients. Shockwave IVL serves to reduce these blockages in a safer and less-invasive approach.
How Shockwave Intravascular Lithotripsy works:
Shockwave IVL uses pulsatile sonic pressure waves to modify calcium in a safe manner. The technology was reverse-engineered from kidney stone lithotripsy and has been adapted to safely break up calcified plaque in patients with advanced heart disease. This innovative technology was only recently approved by the FDA in February 2021 for patients with complex calcification in their coronary arteries. Sentara Healthcare was the first in Virginia to offer this innovative and safe procedure to their patients
Dr. Matthew R. Summers, M.D., Interventional Cardiologist at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and Dr. Matthew Cauchi, Interventional Structural Cardiologist at Sentara RMH Medical Center weigh-in on the impact and value of this procedure for their patients and communities.
"In the past we have dealt with calcium build-up with a treatment called atherectomy, which is dealing with the calcium inside the blood vessel; these procedures often have limitations and can lead to issues with blood flow afterwards. All of these limitations are minimized with the ability to use Shockwave." Dr. Matthew Summers
"At Sentara, we are always focused on quality and safety, this technology allows us to offer a safer and less-invasive way to treat more patients, including those with very complex cases." Dr. Matthew Cauchi
A Safer Option for Patients
The most important benefit of this technology is the safety aspect. The shockwave procedure allows interventional cardiologists to deal with this degree of calcium, by fracturing it, to allow for balloons and stents to be safely implanted and improve blood flow. Not only do Sentara patient’s benefit from the safety and durability of this procedure, they are assessed and supported by Sentara Healthcare's CHIP program, a team-based approach to supporting patients with coronary artery blockages.
Team-Based Approach Leads to Better Outcomes
CHIP, which stands for Complex Higher-risk (and Indicated) Patients, involves a team of interventionalists reviewing and consulting on cases together to determine if procedures like Shockwave are a good fit for a patient. This team is made up of interventional cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, cardiac imagers and other advanced heart failure colleagues. They all work together to tailor therapy to these particularly complex patients.
"It really does take expertise in a variety of subsets within cardiovascular medicine and surgery to bring various perspectives to the table and help inform not just a treatment decision, but the most optimal treatment we can for our patients," adds Dr. Paul M. Lavigne, M.D., Cardiologist at Sentara Cardiology Specialists.
The Shockwave technology was developed by Shockwave Medical, a public medical device company located in Santa Clara, California. Shockwave Medical is the first to use lithotripsy to fracture calcium in the artery. The approach was approved by the FDA in September of 2016 for its use in peripheral artery disease and approved by the FDA in February of 2021 for the treatment of coronary artery disease.
This treatment is currently being offered at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and Sentara RMH Medical Center.