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.

Cardiologists are first in world to use new TAVR catheter from Boston Scientific
The new Self-Centering Guide Catheter was designed to help care teams with the retrograde crossing of the aortic valve during TAVR. Researchers evaluated the safety and effectiveness of the catheter, sharing their experience in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.
Shockwave Medical launches new IVL catheter for targeting challenging lesions in PAD patients
The new-look Javelin Peripheral IVL Catheter was designed to travel through extremely narrowed blood vessels and target plaques with up to 120 pulses.
Teleflex to acquire Biotronik’s vascular intervention business for $791M, split into 2 separate entities
The acquisition helps Teleflex expand its interventional and vascular portfolios. Biotronik, meanwhile, is shifting its focus toward implantable devices and digital healthcare.
Know your options: What cardiologists recommend when alternative access is required for TAVR
Transfemoral TAVR is not always a viable option. In those instances, the two most effective alternatives are transcarotid access and transcaval access, according to a new SCAI expert consensus statement.
Cardiovascular societies support Medicare coverage for renal denervation
CMS is expected to release a proposed national coverage determination decision memo by July.

A CT image from the Heart Institute in Kyiv, Ukraine, showing a Russian bullet in a civilian patient's upper lung lobe. The patient was being treated at the cardiology hospital after he tried to drive his family out of the area of the front lines and was shot at by Russian soldiers. He is being treated by cardiac surgeon Igor Mokryk MD. Photo by Igor Mokryk.

Heart hospital in Ukraine treating wounded civilians

Cardiothoracic surgeon Igor Mokryk, MD, spent last week taking his family to the Polish border. This week, he treated his first gunshot wound patient at the Heart Institute in Kyiv.

Evolocumab limits adverse cardiovascular outcomes among PCI patients

Data from the FOURIER trial helped clinicians learn more about this popular PCSK9 inhibitor.

Distal radial access consistently lowers risk of artery occlusion during PCI

The new meta-analysis, published in the American Journal of Cardiology, includes data from 16 different studies.

Congenital heart disease increases risk of poor COVID-19 outcomes, including death

Researchers examined data from more than 235,000 hospitalized patients treated in the United States.

When infective endocarditis after TAVR is most likely to be fatal

Researchers reviewed data from more than 900 patients, sharing their research in the American Journal of Cardiology.

Researchers review PCI outcomes, find little evidence of a ‘July effect’ in interventional cardiology

New trainees may not necessarily lead to a higher risk of medical errors during PCI.

The Edwards Lifesciences Sapien transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) device in a heart model used to show patients how the device works.

TAVR associated with lower healthcare costs than surgery

Researchers examined Medicare data from 2016 to 2018, presenting their findings in Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions.

Recurrent MR after TEER: Tracking data from nearly 700 MitraClip patients

The new analysis focused on both primary and secondary MR 12 months after TEER.

Cath Lab

Cardiologists are first in world to use new TAVR catheter from Boston Scientific

Shockwave Medical launches new IVL catheter for targeting challenging lesions in PAD patients

Teleflex to acquire Biotronik’s vascular intervention business for $791M, split into 2 separate entities

Know your options: What cardiologists recommend when alternative access is required for TAVR

Cardiovascular societies support Medicare coverage for renal denervation