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.

Angiographic catheters recalled due to safety risk
The new Class I recall includes nearly 27,000 devices that could potentially experience a harmful defect during use.
AMA to advocate for improved Medicare payments for office-based labs
SCAI and other healthcare groups want changes made to how healthcare providers are paid after performing office-based lab procedures. "As much as we love delivering care as doctors, if we are losing money doing something, we cannot sustain it," one cardiologist explained.
Cardiologist became paralyzed after wearing heavy aprons in the cath lab for decades—but he fought back
Dean J. Kereiakes, MD, was left paralyzed after battling severe orthopedic issues for his entire career. Back in the cath lab after a long recovery, he is now stressing the importance of workplace safety among interventional cardiologists.
Cardiologists using less contrast in the cath lab—but there is room to improve
Researchers emphasized that minimizing procedural contrast use is an effective way to reduce the risk of post-PCI acute kidney injury.
Society of Interventional Radiology joins others in urging Medicare payment for high-cost disposables
The resolution urges the AMA to advocate for separate payment for certain services using supplies priced above $500, as well as those containing high-cost equipment.

The Shockwave Medical M5+ new peripheral intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) catheter cuts procedures times in half and was showed for the first time at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) 2022 meeting. It is designed to break up calcium in heavily calcified arteries to avoid the need for vessel trauma caused by high pressure angioplasty.

IVL delivers significant value for women, real-world data confirm

Researchers tracked data from nearly 400 women with complex CAD who underwent treatment with Shockwave Medical's intravascular lithotripsy technology prior to PCI.

Imaging for chest pain: CT- and ICA-first strategies linked to similar long-term health status

These findings present additional evidence that invasive imaging tests are not necessarily more effective when it comes to evaluating patients for chest pain.

Alexander Kolomaya, MD, a cardiology resident at the University of Utah, presented a study on U.S. national trends in left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) volume and open payments from vendors to operators at the American Heart Association 2024 meeting.

Vendor payments not responsible for rising popularity of LAAO procedures

Consulting fees and other vendor payments do not appear to be directly influencing U.S. physicians to implant more Watchman devices. Researcher Alexander Kolomaya, MD, discussed his team's findings on this topic.

Conavi Medical’s Novasight Hybrid System catheter

FDA warns that certain coronary imaging catheters are being removed from market over safety concerns

A catheter sheath detached during use and was left in the patient’s body. It was successfully removed, but the FDA said it is now evaluating the potential risk to others going forward. There is no official recall at this time.

Family of heart patient who died awarded $45M after suing health system for negligence

The 55-year-old patient woke up experiencing chest pain one morning and an ambulance was called. He was dead just a few hours later. His family's lawsuit argued that delays in care, communication errors and other issues were directly responsible for his death.

FDA clears new device for enabling access to the heart’s surface without an exposed needle

CardioVia's ViaOne technology includes a blunt-tip needle that remains concealed to help interventional cardiologists and electrophysiologists treat cardiac arrhythmias with a reduced risk of perforation or any other complications.

Using a left radial artery (LRA) vs. hyper-adducted right radial artery (HARRA) approach in the cath lab

Choosing left radial access in the cath lab helps cardiologists limit radiation exposure

Using a left radial artery approach in the cath lab exposes interventional cardiologists to significantly less radiation than a hyper-adducted right radial artery approach. The difference is substantial enough for researchers to declare LRA "the primary access site for cardiac catheterization."

Eric Secemsky, MD, MSc, RPVI, FACC, FAHA, FSCAI, FSVM, director of vascular intervention, Beth Israel Deaconess, section head, interventional cardiology and vascular research, Susan F. Smith Center for Outcomes Research, and associate professor of medicine, Harvard Medical School, explained some of the new bioresorbable stent scaffold technology that is being developed for use in PAD below the knee at CRT 2025.

Advances in bioresorbable stents show promise for treating PAD

Bioresorbable stents are back in the spotlight thanks to some significant progress from multiple medtech companies. Eric Secemsky, MD, discussed some of the biggest breakthroughs in this space at CRT 2025.

Cath Lab

Angiographic catheters recalled due to safety risk

AMA to advocate for improved Medicare payments for office-based labs

Cardiologist became paralyzed after wearing heavy aprons in the cath lab for decades—but he fought back

Cardiologists using less contrast in the cath lab—but there is room to improve

Society of Interventional Radiology joins others in urging Medicare payment for high-cost disposables