How is the FRACTURE study on laser-based IVL going to impact the management of calcified lesions?

Evald Christiansen and Margaret Mcentegart review the results of the FRACTURE IDE trial which evaluated a novel optical laser-based intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) system for the treatment of severely calcified coronary lesions. The study demonstrated high rates of procedural success and safety, with low rates of clinically significant complications. While procedural myocardial infarction rates appeared elevated based on enzymatic criteria, further analysis suggests these were mostly minor biomarker elevations rather than clinically meaningful events. The discussion highlights the importance of intravascular imaging to guide calcium modification, optimise lesion preparation, and improve stent expansion.

This interview was filmed at EuroPCR 2026: see more videos here.