Ettore Ventura, Edoardo O Genta, Stefano De Martini, Piero Montorsi, Stefano Galli
The LithiX Hertz Contact Intravascular Lithotripsy System (Elixir Medical) is a new calcium fragmentation device that uses metal hemispheres on a semicompliant balloon to impart high contact stresses on calcified plaque while remaining inert on noncalcified tissue. We applied the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions calcium-management algorithm to 3 consecutive complex calcified lesions, used optical coherence tomography as the intravascular imaging modality of choice in all cases, and integrated these findings with angiography-derived quantitative flow ratio for functional assessment before and after the procedure. Clinical follow-up was uneventful in all patients. The LithiX Hertz Contact Intravascular Lithotripsy System allowed effective calcium modification with a simplified, console-free setup and facilitated optimal stent expansion in complex and crossable lesions.