BackTable / Cardiology / Podcast / Episode #5

Calcium Modification in Coronary Artery Disease: IVL or Atherectomy?

with Dr. Yader Sandoval

Calcium belongs in the bones, not the blood vessels! But once it’s there, how can interventional cardiologists use their skills and tools to combat it? In this episode of the BackTable Cardiology Podcast, host Dr. Hady Lichaa interviews Dr. Yader Sandoval from the Minneapolis Heart Institute about handling coronary calcification.

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Calcium Modification in Coronary Artery Disease: IVL or Atherectomy? with Dr. Yader Sandoval on the BackTable Cardiology Podcast

Ep 5 Calcium Modification in Coronary Artery Disease: IVL or Atherectomy? with Dr. Yader Sandoval

00:00 / 01:04

BackTable, LLC (Producer). (2025, September 16). Ep. 5 – Calcium Modification in Coronary Artery Disease: IVL or Atherectomy? [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from https://www.backtable.com

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Podcast Contributors

Dr. Hady Lichaa

Dr. Hady Lichaa is an interventional and general cardiologist with Ascension Saint Thomas Heart in Tennessee.

Dr. Yader Sandoval

Dr. Yader Sandoval is an interventional cardiologist and physician-scientist at Minneapolis Heart Institute, Abbott Northwestern.

Synopsis

Dr. Sandoval shares insights into the challenges of treating calcified coronary lesions, the importance of intravascular imaging, and his strategic approach to using technologies like intravascular lithotripsy, atherectomy, and specialty balloons. He emphasizes practical tips and tricks for interventional cardiologists to optimize procedure outcomes and tackle severe coronary calcification effectively. Their discussion overviews the latest innovations in the field, providing valuable advice for balancing advanced techniques with procedural efficiency.

Dr. Sandoval also details the where, when, and how of approaching in-stent restenosis (ISR), including how to use imaging to optimize treating heavy calcifications around stents.

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction
01:57 - Overview of Coronary Calcification
08:08 - Severe Calcification Cases: Equipment and Technique
21:08 - Guide Wires, Microcatheters, and Guide Extensions for Calcified Lesions
31:24 - IVUS vs OCT
36:21 - Atherectomy vs IVL Considerations
43:32 - Calcified Nodules
51:06 - Stents and In-Stent Restenosis Management
56:42 - Conclusion

Resources

Dr. Yader Sandoval
https://mplsheart.org/yader-sandoval-md

Abbott Northwestern Hospital
Dr. Hady Lichaa
https://healthcare.ascension.org/find-care/provider/1336267533/hady-lichaa

SCAI Expert Consensus Statement on Management of In-Stent Restenosis and Stent Thrombosis
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11308135/

The Materials available on BackTable are for informational and educational purposes only and are not a substitute for the professional judgment of a healthcare professional in diagnosing and treating patients. The opinions expressed by participants of the BackTable Podcast belong solely to the participants, and do not necessarily reflect the views of BackTable.

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Articles

Topics

Chronic Total Occlusion (CTO) Condition Overview

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) Condition Overview

In-Stent Restenosis (ISR) Condition Overview

Learn about Interventional Cardiology on BackTable Cardiology

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) Procedure Prep

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