Cath Lab

The cardiac catheterization laboratory is used for diagnostic angiograms and percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). Cath labs have also seen expanding use in recent years for transcatheter structural heart procedures. Some hospitals also share these labs with other subspecialties for catheter-based procedures in electrophysiology (EP), interventional radiology, peripheral artery disease (PAD), carotid and neuro interventional procedures and vascular surgery.

Beacon Tip Centimeter Sizing Catheter FDA alert

FDA warns that certain sizing catheters should not be used due to risk of breaking

These catheters from Cook Medical are associated with an increased risk of device fragmentation or vessel injury. Customers are urged to return them to the manufacturer. 

warning safety alert recall healthcare issue

Medline recalls millions of devices due to safety risk—FDA threatens ‘regulatory action’ in warning letter

Millions of angiographic syringes were recalled due to a risk of parts becoming loose or disconnected. The FDA, unhappy with Medline's response to this situation, sent the company a new warning letter. 

Divaka Perera, MD, at ACC.26

‘Practice-changing’ interventional cardiology research grabs ACC.26 spotlight

The second day of the American College of Cardiology’s annual conference started with a series of highly anticipated interventional cardiology trials.

heart doctors and surgeons working together. top cardiology hospitals in the United States.

Cardiologists lead push for new cath lab radiation safety standards

Several U.S. medical societies have collaborated on a new report advocating for better safety standards in cardiac catheterization labs. As one cardiologist described it, clinicians have shifted from "accepting risk" to "expecting better."

Workflow efficiencies and automation enhance newer cardiovascular IT systems

9 ways cardiovascular IT systems can improve your day-to-day workflow

Bringing in a new and improved cardiovascular IT system can save physicians a ton of time and lead to considerable cost savings.

Several interventional cardiology late-breaking studies were presented at the Cardiovascular Research Technologies (CRT) 2026 meeting March 7-10, and experts from the Society of Society highlighted what they felt was most impactful to clinical practice. Photo by Dave Fornell.

CRT 2026: Key takeaways for interventional cardiologists

CRT studies shed new light on many topics, including long-term TAVR outcomes, radiation protection and advanced interventional techniques.

FDA recall medical device recall product recall

FDA confirms more recalls for Johnson & Johnson heart pumps due to malfunction risk

The issue, first announced to the public in February, has been linked to 22 serious injuries. Customers are urged to review the updated instructions for use to avoid any potential complications. 

Death after PCI seen in just 0.5% of patients—heart attack, cardiac arrest most common causes

The new analysis included data from more than 22,000 PCI patients treated at one of two high-volume U.S. facilities. Infection was the most common noncardiac cause of death.