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.

IVUS Intravascular Ultrasound ACC

Intravascular imaging during PCI: Should cardiologists choose IVUS or OCT?

Which modality should care teams choose for PCI guidance? While there's an argument to be made for choosing IVUS over OCT, some specialists think the two treatment options are close to equal in terms of patient outcomes. 

Shockwave Medical, a Johnson & Johnson MedTech company, has officially launched its Shockwave E8 Peripheral IVL Catheter in the United States. Shockwave’s E8 catheter was designed specifically to treat patients with calcified femoropopliteal and below-the-knee (BTK) peripheral artery disease (PAD), including those diagnosed with complex chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI).

Shockwave Medical launches new FDA-approved IVL catheter for PAD, CLTI

The new device, already cleared by the FDA, was designed to treat femoropopliteal and below-the-knee PAD. 

SpectraWAVE, a Massachusetts-based imaging company focused on treatments for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), has closed a $50 million funding round. Johnson & Johnson Innovation led the round, and other participants included S3 Ventures, Lumira Ventures, SV Health Investors, Deerfield Management, NovaVenture and Heartwork Capital.

SpectraWAVE raises $50M for FDA-cleared intravascular imaging technology

The funds, including a significant investment from Johnson & Johnson, are expected to go toward expanding access to the company's HyperVue Imaging System and exploring new features.

Map of Congressional districts and the rate of amputations based on medicare data showing Mississippi delta region with the highest number of amputation procedures per year. Dr. Fakorede located his practice there to try and combat extremely the high PAD and CLI rates.

PAD is a public health crisis say cardiovascular societies

September is peripheral artery disease (PAD) awareness month, and medical societies are using it to promote awareness for patients and referring physicians to act against the debilitating disease.
 

OCT-guided PCI, or optical coherence tomography-guided percutaneous coronary intervention.

OCT-guided PCI boosts outcomes when treating complex lesions

When PCI patients present with complex lesions, optical coherence tomography may provide significant value.

Banner ASC in Sun City, Arizona.

PAD patients fare better when they have a strong support system

PAD patients with a strong social support system were associated with better outcomes in a new analysis published in the Journal of Vascular Surgery.

Pedro Martinez Clark, MD, is helping to addressing health disparities and high PAD and CLI rates in Latin and Haitian communities in Miami.

Addressing high PAD and CLI rates in Latin and Haitian communities of Miami

Pedro Martinez Clark, MD, FSCAI, interventional cardiologist, medical director of Amavita Heart and Vascular Health in Miami, set up community outreach efforts to screen patients in low-income neighborhoods.
 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that Defibtech, a Nihon Kohden company, is recalling its RMU-2000 ARM XR Chest Compression Device due to significant safety concerns. This is a Class I recall, which means the FDA believes using the device “may cause serious injury or death.”

Automated chest compression device recalled after patient death

Regulators emphasized that these devices should not be used due to significant safety risks.