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.

Sunil Rao, MD, FSCAI, 2022-23 President of the Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI), and director of interventional cardiology NYU Langone, explains efforts by SCAI to address the shift in interventional procedures from hospitals to less expensive ambulatory surgical centers (ASC).

Maintaining quality is key as more cardiac procedures migrate to outpatient ASCs

SCAI President Sunil Rao, MD, discussed the group's efforts to address the shift in interventional procedures from hospitals to less expensive ambulatory surgical centers.

Eric Secemsky, MD, FACC, FAHA, FSCAI, FSVM, director of vascular intervention at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, presented the results of a real-world evidence study of data for over 1 million U.S. Medicare patients to evaluate trends in the use of, and outcomes associated with, intravascular imaging during percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). #IVUS

Intravascular imaging-guided PCI boosts outcomes, but utilization remains low

Eric Secemsky, MD, told Cardiovascular Business that a lack of training is one of the biggest factors limiting the use of intravascular imaging-guided PCI among interventional cardiologists. 

Banner ASC in Sun City, Arizona.

PHOTO GALLERY: Behind the scenes at a cardiac ambulatory surgical center

A look inside a Banner Health cardiology ambulatory surgical center (ASC) in Sun City, Arizona.

SCAI President Sunil Rao, MD, explains the 2022-2023 SCAI accomplishments to improve interventional cardiology.

SCAI President Sunil Rao on how the society is helping advance interventional cardiology

Rao spoke with Cardiovascular Business at ACC.23 to detail some of SCAI's biggest accomplishments from the last year. 

Cardiologist Azeem Latib

Cardiologist Azeem Latib joins Supira Medical

The interventional cardiologist is now working with vendor Supira Medical to help advance the company's next-generation percutaneous ventricular assist device.

Medicare money payment physician

TAVR costs vary significantly from one hospital to the next

According to a new study of more than 119,000 hospitalizations, the costs associated with TAVR are far from consistent. 

SCAI President Sunil Rao explains what he saw as the top 5 interventional studies at ACC23. #SCAI #ACC #ACC23

5 studies that could make a big impact on interventional cardiology

SCAI President Sunil Rao, MD, spoke with us about some of the key interventional cardiology studies presented at ACC.23 in New Orleans. 

PCI

Transradial access should be ‘default strategy’ for PCI, new study confirms

Researchers explored data from nearly 25,000 PCI procedures, tracking the outcomes of patients treated with transradial access and transfemoral access.