Safety and effectiveness of percutaneous coronary intervention using rotational atherectomy and new-generation drug-eluting stents for calcified coronary artery lesions in patients with chronic kidney disease

AIM: Coronary artery calcification is an important factor influencing revascularisation outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Lesion preparation using rotational atherectomy (RA) may help adequately modify calcified plaques and facilitate the achievement of optimal clinical outcomes in these patients. In this study, we assessed the safety and effectiveness of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using RA followed by new-generation drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation in patients with CKD and calcified coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS AND RESULTS: From November 2014 to October 2019, a total of 203 patients with calcified CAD who underwent RA followed by second- or third-generation DES implantation at our centre were included in the study. Mild, moderate, and severe CKD was present in 38%, 55.5%, and 6.5% of the patients, respectively. Diffused coronary calcifications were present in 85%. Procedural success was 97.5% with minimal periprocedural complications. In-stent restenosis occurred in one patient (0.5%); major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events were reported in 22 patients (10.8%); cardiac death occurred in eight patients during follow-up. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous coronary intervention using RA followed by second- or third-generation DES implantation is feasible and safe with high procedural success and low in-stent restenosis in CKD patients with calcified coronary lesions.