Samsung Seoul Hospital Performs Korea's First 'Intravascular Coronary Lithotripsy'

Korea Health Industry Development Institute Announces New Medical Technology on March 31

Samsung Medical Center performed the country's first-ever 'Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL)' on the 14th, a cutting-edge treatment method that removes calcified lesions within the coronary arteries.

The Interventional Procedure Team at Samsung Medical Center's Heart and Vascular Hospital performed the country's first 'Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL) for Coronary Arteries' on the 14th. Samsung Medical Center

Intravascular lithotripsy refers to a procedure that uses a special catheter to emit sonic pressure pulses to break down lesions when the calcification is severe, before inserting a stent to widen the narrowed coronary artery vessels.

The energy-generating device attached to the catheter momentarily produces high-pressure sound waves, creating microfractures in the calcified lesions within the coronary arteries to crush them.

Since its approval by the U.S. FDA in 2021, it has rapidly spread mainly in major advanced countries such as North America and Europe. In Korea, the Korea Health Industry Development Institute announced it as a new medical technology on March 31.

According to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC), which served as the basis for the FDA's approval of intravascular lithotripsy, the procedure's success rate reaches 92.4%. A follow-up study conducted in Japan also demonstrated its effectiveness and safety with a success rate of 93.8%.

In particular, compared to existing treatments such as atherectomy or high-pressure balloon angioplasty, it has the advantage of a lower risk of side effects such as vascular damage or the risk of broken calcified fragments blocking other vessels, while reducing procedural complexity and shortening procedure time.

The Interventional Procedure Team at Samsung Medical Center’s Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Hospital (Professors Kwon Hyuncheol, Choi Seunghyuk, Han Jooyong, Song Youngbin, Yang Junghoon, Lee Joomyung, Choi Kihong, and Lee Sangyoon from the Department of Cardiology) successfully completed the procedure without any unusual complications on patients with severe stenosis accompanied by very severe calcified lesions that were difficult to treat with existing methods.

Professor Kwon Hyuncheol said, "By newly introducing intravascular lithotripsy, we can offer patients more diverse treatment options," adding, "We will do our best to help more patients live longer and healthier lives with strong cardiovascular health through treatments tailored to their conditions."