Percutaneous management of calcified coronary arteries - review of atherectomy and lithotripsy devices and why it is important.

Purpose Of Review: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) predisposes to suboptimal revascularization outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Despite the availability of several plaque modification devices, their rates of use remain low despite the prevalence of CAC encountered in clinical practice. It is important to understand how each device can be utilized in clinical practice in order to improve outcomes after PCI.