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.

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.

Intravascular lithotripsy, the technology at heart of $13B acquisition, linked to positive real-world data

The calcified plaque-shattering technology developed by Shockwave Medical continues to gain momentum. As more care teams start using IVL during PCI, researchers are paying close attention to its long-term impact on patient care.

Sahil Parikh, MD, FSCAI, Director of Endovascular Services at New York-Presbyterian Columbia University Irving Medical Center, and Associate Professor of Medicine at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, explains there is scant clinical data on what the standard of care should be for pulmonary embolism, so it is up to clinicians to decide what is best for patients based on whether patients have mild to severe PE.

Pulmonary embolism treatments continue to evolve

There is still a lack of lack of standardized treatment protocols for pulmonary embolism. This is mainly due to limited data and a lack of reliable risk assessments, one specialist explained.

PCI interventional cardiology

‘Failure to rescue’ after PCI: 20% of patients die when complications occur

Major complications are rare during percutaneous coronary intervention. When they do occur, however, the in-hospital mortality rate is relatively high. 

Video interview with Jim Melton, DO, vascular surgeon, explains the CLI mortality rate among amputees in rural Oklahoma, and the need for outreach programs to screen more patients.

Death rate from critical limb ischemia is high in rural Oklahoma

In rural Oklahoma, double amputees due to untreated peripheral artery disease face mortality rates around 35% after one year and 60% after two. Jim Melton, DO, hopes his mobile cardiology clinics can make a difference for these patients.

Adona Medical adjustable interatrial shunt

Heart failure startup raises $33.5M for adjustable interatrial shunt

Adona Medical’s adjustable interatrial shunt can be made larger or smaller in size after implantation through the use of a custom-designed induction catheter.

Jim Melton, DO, vascular surgeon and co-founder of the CardioVascular Health Clinic in Oklahoma City, explains the use of mobile outreach cardiology clinics to help rural and Native American populations.

Mobile cardiology clinic reaches rural, Native American populations in Oklahoma

Jim Melton, DO, a vascular surgeon in Oklahoma City, explains his efforts to reach patients in rural Oklahoma and Native American tribes with a mobile cardiovascular clinic program.

Impella Heart Pump Abiomed RECOVER IV RCT cardiogenic shock

Impella use may not improve high-risk PCI outcomes

Impella heart pumps may not provide as much value when treating high-risk patients as early data suggested.

Biolimus A9 Coated Balloon from BioAscend

In-stent restenosis after PCI: New biolimus-coated balloon non-inferior to paclitaxel devices

A new study of nearly 300 PCI patients suggests biolimus-coated balloons could provide significant value to interventional cardiologists in the years ahead.