Interventional Cardiology

This cardiac subspecialty uses minimally invasive, catheter-based technologies in a cath lab to diagnose and treat coronary artery disease (CAD). The main focus in on percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) to revascularize patients with CAD that is causing blockages resulting in ischemia or myocardial infarction. PCI mainly consists of angioplasty and implanting stents. Interventional cardiology has greatly expanded in scope over recent years to include a number of transcatheter structural heart interventions.

Did Boston Scientific pull the plug too early on TAVR devices? Cardiologists weigh in
Boston Scientific stopped selling its Acurate TAVR systems after they underperformed in a few key trials and failed to gain FDA approval. Was it the right call?
New physician Medicare payments for the Agent drug-coated balloon set for 2027
Boston Scientific said two category III CPT codes are set to become permanent category I codes for physician payments starting Jan. 1, 2027.
SCAI: To improve cardiogenic shock outcomes, reduce lactate levels
SCAI feels this is the best way forward to try lowering mortality rates, but the group is asking cardiologists to help by gathering more data.
Siemens Healthineers and Boston Scientific partner on next-generation intracardiac echo for LAAO
The agreement also will make Boston Scientific the exclusive distributor for the new ICE catheter optimized for left atrial appendage occlusion workflows.
$64M raised for new cardiogenic shock drug—research already underway
Procizumab was developed to change the trajectory of shock by addressing an underlying molecular driver rather than just managing symptoms.

Boston Scientific ACURATE neo2 aortic valve system self-expanding TAVR valve

Did Boston Scientific pull the plug too early on TAVR devices? Cardiologists weigh in

Boston Scientific stopped selling its Acurate TAVR systems after they underperformed in a few key trials and failed to gain FDA approval. Was it the right call?

Boston Scientific said it initiated the AGENT DCB STANCE trial to assess the safety and effectiveness of the Agent Drug-Coated Balloon (DCB) compared to the standard of care using either percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents (DES) and/or balloon angioplasty. The trial will enroll more than 1,600 patients and is expected to a primary completion date in 2028.

New physician Medicare payments for the Agent drug-coated balloon set for 2027

Boston Scientific said two category III CPT codes are set to become permanent category I codes for physician payments starting Jan. 1, 2027.

Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) President Srihari S. Naidu, MD, professor of medicine at New York Medical College, explains the SCAI initiative to improve outcomes in cardiogenic shock by monitoring and lowering patient lactate levels.

SCAI: To improve cardiogenic shock outcomes, reduce lactate levels

SCAI feels this is the best way forward to try lowering mortality rates, but the group is asking cardiologists to help by gathering more data.

Siemens Healthineers and Boston Scientific partner on next-generation intracardiac echo for LAAO

The agreement also will make Boston Scientific the exclusive distributor for the new ICE catheter optimized for left atrial appendage occlusion workflows.

Illustration showing how procizumab captures circulating dipeptidyl peptidase 3 (cDPP3) to block this key molecular driver of shock. Illustrations courtesy of 4TEEN4

$64M raised for new cardiogenic shock drug—research already underway

Procizumab was developed to change the trajectory of shock by addressing an underlying molecular driver rather than just managing symptoms.

Prosthesis-patient mismatch after TAVR may not negatively impact quality of life

Researchers warned that “aggressive procedural modifications” should not be necessary during TAVR to mitigate the risk of prosthesis-patient mismatch. This appears to be true for patients receiving both self-expanding and balloon-expandable TAVR valves.

SCAI President Srihari S. Naidu, MD, professor of medicine at New York Medical College, explained some of the key payment issues interventional cardiologists are facing amid declining Medicare reimbursements.

SCAI fighting for interventional cardiologists amid challenging payment policies

SCAI President Srihari Naidu, MD, detailed some of the challenges interventional cardiologists face as reimbursements keep declining. The group has been building new partnerships with other medical societies to strengthen its influence in Washington.

Sahil Parikh, MD, director of endovascular services, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, associate professor of medicine at Columbia University, and a program director for the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) meeting, explains the growing focus in interventional cardiology on endovascular procedures for stroke, pulmonary embolism, peripheral artery disease and renal denervation.

Interventional cardiology showing more interest in endovascular procedures

Sahil Parikh, MD, said it was clear at TCT 2025 that the specialty is getting more and more involved with endovascular procedures for stroke, pulmonary embolism and peripheral artery disease.