Enhanced Efficiency of Sequential Cutting Balloon Angioplasty in Calcified Coronary Artery Disease: The RODIN‐CUT Technique

BACKGROUND: Heavily calcified coronary artery disease presents significant challenges in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), often requiring advanced techniques to achieve optimal outcomes. Cutting balloons (CB) have shown potential for plaque modification; however, their effectiveness is limited without standardized protocols. AIMS: This study introduces the RODIN-CUT technique, a novel approach utilizing sequential CB inflations with real-time intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guidance. The technique aims to enhance calcified plaque modification, improve stent expansion, and achieve consistent procedural success in heavily calcified coronary lesions. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective analysis of three consecutive patients requiring specialized approaches beyond conventional PCI was included at three centers in Belgium. The RODIN-CUT protocol involved multiple CB inflations at precise lesion segments, followed by immediate IVUS imaging after each inflation to assess plaque modification and guide further therapy. Procedural success was defined as residual stenosis < 30% with TIMI 3 distal flow. The study evaluated the dose-dependent effects of repeated CB inflations on plaque fracture depth and distribution. CONCLUSION: The RODIN-CUT technique demonstrated promising outcomes, achieving procedural success in all cases with enhanced stent expansion and minimal complications. The technique's simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and reproducibility make it a viable option for treating heavily calcified coronary lesions. Further large-scale studies are required to validate these findings and establish the RODIN-CUT technique as a standard approach for complex calcified lesions.