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 comparison between a traditional iodine contrast angiogram (left), and a gadolinium contrast angiogram (right). MRI gadolinium contrast is starting to be used in some interventional radiology procedures and is being considered in interventional cardiology due to the iodine contrast shortage.

Gadolinium can be used as substitute for iodine contrast in some interventional imaging procedures

Gadolinium might be an alternative, stop-gap solution for interventional procedures during the current iodine contrast shortage.

TPV valves, CTO PCI and more: SCAI 2022 updates for interventional cardiologists

The first two days of SCAI 2022 were jam-packed with innovative technologies and late-breaking research.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) patients continue to benefit from an optimized pre- and post-procedural treatment strategy that utilizes the cusp overlap technique, according to new findings presented at EuroPCR 2022 in Paris.

Cusp overlap technique, optimized treatment strategy tied to significant improvements for TAVR patients

The research, presented at EuroPCR 2022 in Paris, represented an updated look at the Optimize PRO study, an ongoing analysis of patients treated with Medtronic’s self-expanding Evolut Pro and Pro+ TAVR systems.

Alan Matsumoto explains gadolinium as substitute for iodine contrast during shortage

VIDEO: Gadolinium being substituted for iodine contrast in some procedures due to shortage

Alan H. Matsumoto, MD, chair of the department of radiology at the University of Virginia, vice chair of the American College of Radiology (ACR) Board of Chancellors, and chairman of the ACR Commission on Interventional and Cardiovascular Radiology, explains that the iodine contrast shortage has led to use of MRI gadolinium contrast agents in some cases.

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New guidelines detail PFO management, including when to consider closure

The new guidance document was designed to provide helpful information on a topic "surrounded by controversy." 

Kirk Garratt, past SCAI president, explains the impact of the iodine contrast shortage on interventional cardiology and the cath lab. #SCAI

VIDEO: How the iodine contrast shortage is impacting interventional cath labs

Kirk Garratt, MD, medical director of the Center for Heart and Vascular Health, ChristianaCare, and a past president of SCAI, explains what this shortage means for interventional cardiologists.

Intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) Shockwave Medical PCI PAD CAD Disrupt PAD Disrupt CAD SCAI 2022

Intravascular lithotripsy tied to superior long-term PAD, PCI outcomes at SCAI 2022

Two separate sessions presented at SCAI 2022 focused on long-term outcomes associated with Shockwave Medical's IVL technology.

GE provides update on contrast media shortage

The COVID lockdowns at the Shanghai plant began on March 31, and although the plant there has since resumed operations, they are not yet at 100% capacity.