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.

A transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure being performed at Intermountain Healthcare. Image from Intermountain Healthcare

AFib patients more likely to be hospitalized for heart failure or bleeding following TAVR

The study, published in the American Journal of Cardiology, included data from more than 900 TAVR patients. Overall morality was 22.7% among patients with AFib and 14.4% among patients without AFib.

Biolimus-coated balloons can effectively treat small-vessel coronary artery disease, new first-in-human study confirms

Researchers compared the new-look drug coated balloon with an uncoated balloon, publishing their findings in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.

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Tracking TAVR’s impact on gastrointestinal bleeding symptoms

TAVR patients with gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) were linked to longer lengths of stay and a higher risk of acute kidney injury than patients without GIB.

Two examples of new left atrial appendage occluders (LAAO), the Conformal omn left and the Laminar on the right. evi Nair, MD, FACC, FHRS, director of cardiac electrophysiology at St. Bernard's Healthcare, Jonesboro, Arkansas, explains some of the recent advances in transcatheter left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion technology at the 2022 Transcatheter Valve Therapeutics (TVT) Structural Heart Summit. #TVT #TVT2020 #LAA #LAAO #EPeeps

VIDEO: Advances in left atrial appendage occlusion technology

Devi Nair, MD, director of cardiac electrophysiology at St. Bernard's Healthcare, Jonesboro, Arkansas, explains some of the recent advances in transcatheter left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion technology at the 2022 Transcatheter Valve Therapeutics (TVT) Structural Heart Summit.

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Cardiologists push back on FDA’s thyroid monitoring/contrast media proposal

According to a new SCAI statement, the FDA's recommendation would result in "far-reaching consequences" across multiple specialties. 

The Boston Scientific Acurate neo2,. Abbott Portico and the new Edwards Sapien X4 TAVR valves were hot topics of discussion at TCT 2022. #TVT #TVT22 #TVT2022

VIDEO: TAVR's long-term impact on patient care

One thing was clear at TVT 2022 in Chicago: TAVR's popularity over surgery is changing the way physicians think about patient care. 

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Links to all the late-breaking structural heart studies at TVT 2022

Here are links to more information for all the late-breaking presentations at the 2022 Transcatheter Valve Therapies (TVT) Structural Heart Summit.

A TAVR procedure being performed at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. These structural heart procedures require a team approach.

VIDEO: How to build a structural heart program

Charles Davidson, MD, clinical chief of cardiology and medical director of the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute, Northwestern University, explains what hospitals need to consider when starting a new structural heart program.