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.

Newsweek ranked the 50 best heart hospitals in the world

Hybrid coronary revascularization vs. CABG for multivessel CAD: New meta-analysis tracks long-term outcomes

A hybrid approach may increase the risk of certain adverse events, according to a new meta-analysis focused on long-term outcomes. 

Prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM) after TAVR

Cardiologists may want to rethink how they track prosthesis-patient mismatch after TAVR

Researchers evaluated two techniques for predicting PPM after TAVR, comparing them to how cardiologists typically check for PPM in day-to-day practice. 

Ramon Varcoe explains the LIFE-BTK trial for the Abbott Esprit fully bioresobable scaffold at TCT23.

Fully bioresorbable stents boost care for CLI patients in LIFE-BTK trial

Ramon Varcoe, MBBS, co-principal investigator for the LIFE-BTK trial, discussed the results with Cardiovascular Business at TCT 2023. "I can't wait to start using these in my patients. It's going to make a huge difference."

PHOTO GALLERY: Interventional cardiology technologies at TCT 2023

Browse through some of the many highlights from TCT 2023 in San Francisco.

Kendra Grubb discusses TAVR vs SAVR and the most recent data to explain choices with patients.

TAVR or SAVR? Where things stand now, from a surgeon's perspective

Kendra Grubb, MD, one of the country's leading experts on cardiac surgery, discussed what she tells her patients when they ask if TAVR is better than SAVR for treating severe aortic stenosis. 

Example of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) shown as part of the multimodality imaging capability on the Fujifilm CVIS.

IVUS-guided PCI boosts 2-year survival, reduces need for bypass surgery

IVUS was especially effective when treating patients with a complex coronary anatomy, researchers found. 

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IVL gains higher level of reimbursement with one of biggest coding updates for PCI in decades

Intravascular lithotripsy therapy to break up calcified coronary lesions will now be reimbursed at a higher rate under new in-hospital codes the went into effect Oct. 1.

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‘More dangerous than useful’: 1 in 5 coronary stents implanted by cardiologists are unnecessary, wasting $800M per year

A cardiologist-led think tank tracked data from more than 1 million procedures, exploring the clinical and economic impacts of implanting low-value coronary stents.