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.

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.
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.
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."

ElectroDucer Sleeve PCI TAVR EuroIntervention

New direct wire pacing device shows potential during PCI and TAVR, first-in-human study finds

Early evidence suggests the Electroducer Sleeve is safe and effective among patients presenting for certain interventional procedures.

Sahil A. Parikh, MD, Director of Endovascular Services at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and Associate Professor of Medicine at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, explained the growing trend or interventional cardiologists treating PAD and CLI. He shares what he thinks is important for cardiology departments to know before expanding expanding their programs in this space.

What do interventional cardiologists need to treat PAD and CLI?

Sahil Parikh, MD, director of endovascular services at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, said treating these patients can be quite challenging.

Medtronic relaunches Harmony TPV system after 2022 recall

The device, which gained FDA approval in 2021, was part of a voluntary recall in 2022 due to stability concerns. Medtronic worked with the FDA to address the issue, and the Harmony TPV is once again available throughout the United States.

ACC urges all interventional cardiologists to use intravascular imaging during PCI

New recommendations from the American College of Cardiology detail how intravascular imaging can help clinicians before, during and after PCI procedures.

Abbott to acquire vascular disease specialists for $890M

Minnesota-based Cardiovascular Systems Inc. is perhaps best known for its atherectomy devices designed to treat PAD and CAD.

Ajay J. Kirtane, MD, director of the cardiac catheterization laboratories and professor of medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, explains the current trial data on catheter renal denervation to treat drug-resistant hypertension at AHA 2022.

Where renal denervation stands for the treatment of drug-resistant hypertension

Ajay Kirtane, MD, director of the cardiac catheterization laboratories at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, explained the most recent clinical trial data on this topic.

Samir Kapadia, MD, chairman of the Robert and Suzanne Tomsich Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute at Cleveland Clinic, explains why he believes the results of the late-breaking PROTECTED TAVR testing the use of a TAVR cerebral protection device were positive, although it did not meet its primary endpoint.

VIDEO: Exploring the use of cerebral protection devices during TAVR

Samir Kapadia, MD, chair of the department of cardiovascular medicine at Cleveland Clinic, shared his perspective on the use of cerebral protection devices during TAVR procedures.

Coronary IVL now recommended at all cath labs, even those without surgical backup

The latest SCAI guidance on the safety of PCI procedures included a key change that could expand coronary IVL utilization throughout the United States.

Cath Lab

Vendor payments not responsible for rising popularity of LAAO procedures

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

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

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

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