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.

Boston Scientific launches study comparing drug-coated balloons to standard care
"This important study will evaluate the potential benefits of the AGENT DCB for patients with certain anatomical features in de novo coronary lesions, where the avoidance of stents is preferable to help circumvent potential complications,” said Janar Sathananthan, MD, chief medical officer, interventional cardiology therapies, Boston Scientific.
Cardiovascular device approvals continue to lead the FDA's Breakthrough Device Program
Cardiology is number one in FDA Breakthrough Device designations at 218, the highest number out of all other clinical categories. This includes 16 new devices cleared in the past year.
How to prepare for cath lab complications
“It is your responsibility to be the patient’s advocate,” one expert explained. “We, as the nurses and technologists, have to speak up when we see something that isn’t right.”
SCAI details best practices for PDA closure in premature infants
Transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure has been a mainstay in congenital interventional cardiology for decades, but changes in the standard of care have resulted in catheter-based treatments overtaking surgical procedures.
TAVR in patients with bicuspid aortic valve stenosis: Does device type matter?
More and more care teams are treating BAV stenosis with TAVR instead of surgical aortic valve replacement. Self-expanding and balloon-expandable valves appear to have their own benefits—as well as their own risks.

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.

Boston Scientific launches study comparing drug-coated balloons to standard care

"This important study will evaluate the potential benefits of the AGENT DCB for patients with certain anatomical features in de novo coronary lesions, where the avoidance of stents is preferable to help circumvent potential complications,” said Janar Sathananthan, MD, chief medical officer, interventional cardiology therapies, Boston Scientific.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated the Breakthrough Device Program designations data this week, which now includes 1,176 Breakthrough Device designations, of which 160 have gained market clearance. Cardiovascular devices lead these with 243 devices, the highest number out of all other clinical categories. This includes 16 new cardiovascular devices cleared in the past year.

Cardiovascular device approvals continue to lead the FDA's Breakthrough Device Program

Cardiology is number one in FDA Breakthrough Device designations at 218, the highest number out of all other clinical categories. This includes 16 new devices cleared in the past year.

Kenzie Thompson, BSN, RCIS, cardiovascular invasive specialist, St. Luke's Mid-America Heart Institute, shares advice she gave to cath lab technologists and nurses during a session at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) meeting.

How to prepare for cath lab complications

“It is your responsibility to be the patient’s advocate,” one expert explained. “We, as the nurses and technologists, have to speak up when we see something that isn’t right.”

The Amplatzer Piccolo Occluder for transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure in premature infants. Photo courtesy of Abbott.

SCAI details best practices for PDA closure in premature infants

Transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure has been a mainstay in congenital interventional cardiology for decades, but changes in the standard of care have resulted in catheter-based treatments overtaking surgical procedures.

TAVR in patients with bicuspid aortic valve stenosis: Does device type matter?

More and more care teams are treating BAV stenosis with TAVR instead of surgical aortic valve replacement. Self-expanding and balloon-expandable valves appear to have their own benefits—as well as their own risks.

Medtech company raises $32M for foam-based LAAO device

New Hampshire-based Conformal Medical plans on using the funds to enroll more patients into an ongoing clinical trial.

coronary sinus reducer shockwave medical

Coronary sinus reducer linked to improvements in patients with refractory angina—but questions remain

Treatment with the device is consistently safe, but researchers still think more data is required before reaching any conclusions about its efficacy.

John Puskas, MD, MSc, PhD., FACS, FACC, professor of surgery, and chief of cardiothoracic surgery at Emory University Hospital Midtown, explains how interventional cardiologists can play a role in increasing referrals for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery for patients who are best suited for the procedure, as opposed to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). As the heart team approach expands across cardiology, with surgeons and interventionalists making more decisions together.

How interventional cardiologists can boost cardiac surgery volumes

Competition was once fierce between interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons, but that has changed over the years. "It is absolutely a partnership," one veteran surgeon told Cardiovascular Business.