Use of Shockwave Intravascular Lithotripsy to Facilitate Transcarotid Access for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

Transcarotid access is an alternative approach for transcatheter aortic valve replacement when transfemoral access is not feasible. Calcific carotid atherosclerosis may preclude the use of the transcarotid approach. We describe the first reported use of intravascular lithotripsy to facilitate successful transcarotid transcatheter aortic valve replacement through a severely diseased, calcified carotid artery.