Colegio Argentino de Cardioangiólogos Intervencionistas Revista Argentina de Cardioangiología intervencionista 2250-7531 2313-9307 13 2 2022 06 30 The emergence of coronary intravascular lithotripsy 0068 0072 EN Sukhdeep Bhogal Section of Interventional Cardiology, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC. USA. ron.waksman@medstar.net Hayder Hashim Section of Interventional Cardiology, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC. USA. Ron Waksman Section of Interventional Cardiology, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC. USA. The presence of coronary artery calcification is an independent predictor of poor procedural outcomes. Several techniques, such as cutting or scoring balloons, rotational and orbital atherectomy devices, and excimer laser, are available for plaque modification in the modern catheterization laboratories; however, their use has been associated with increased risk of complications such as vessel dissection, slow or no flow, perforation, or occlusion. Lately, intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) has emerged as a safe and effective tool for the treatment of severely calcified coronary lesions. IVL utilizes spark-gap technology to transform electrical energy to mechanical energy, generating acoustic shock waves that travel transmurally and circumferentially, inducing a therapeutic field effect, and selectively causing fracture of superficial and deep vascular calcium, which is essential for optimal stent expansion. The purpose of this article is to review the mechanism of this novel technology and summarize the pertinent studies leading to its regulatory approvals.  intravascular lithotripsy, coronary calcification, atherectomy http://www.raci.com.ar/contenido/art.php?recordID=MjIwMA== http://recursos.meducatium.com.ar/contenido/articulos/29000680072_2200/pdf/29000680072.pdf