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.

FDA warns that certain coronary imaging catheters are being removed from market over safety concerns
A catheter sheath detached during use and was left in the patient’s body. It was successfully removed, but the FDA said it is now evaluating the potential risk to others going forward. There is no official recall at this time.
Family of heart patient who died awarded $45M after suing health system for negligence
The 55-year-old patient woke up experiencing chest pain one morning and an ambulance was called. He was dead just a few hours later. His family's lawsuit argued that delays in care, communication errors and other issues were directly responsible for his death.
FDA clears new device for enabling access to the heart’s surface without an exposed needle
CardioVia's ViaOne technology includes a blunt-tip needle that remains concealed to help interventional cardiologists and electrophysiologists treat cardiac arrhythmias with a reduced risk of perforation or any other complications.
Choosing left radial access in the cath lab helps cardiologists limit radiation exposure
Using a left radial artery approach in the cath lab exposes interventional cardiologists to significantly less radiation than a hyper-adducted right radial artery approach. The difference is substantial enough for researchers to declare LRA "the primary access site for cardiac catheterization."
Advances in bioresorbable stents show promise for treating PAD
Bioresorbable stents are back in the spotlight thanks to some significant progress from multiple medtech companies. Eric Secemsky, MD, discussed some of the biggest breakthroughs in this space at CRT 2025.

A winning strategy for blood transfusions among anemic heart attack patients

Researchers detailed a method that improves patient safety and leads to significant cost savings.

Philips to acquire interventional device firm Intact Vascular for more than $275M

Around since 2011 and based in Wayne, Pennsylvania, the company specializes in treating peripheral artery disease.

Promising outcomes reported for transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve replacement

The overall procedural technical success rate, researchers reported, was 96.8%.

Faster cath lab activation times make a big impact on patient care

Rapid reperfusion is linked to improved survival for STEMI patients, but delayed care is still prevalent.

Cath labs join forces, reduce radiation dose across the board

Cardiac cath labs can achieve significant radiation dose reductions through focused, collaborative quality improvement (QI) efforts, according to a new analysis published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions.

How should physicians treat STEMI patients with COVID-19? A new study aims to find out

A new international research study will focus on treatment strategies and outcomes of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients with known or suspected COVID-19.

What the COVID-19 pandemic means for cath labs

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the practice of cardiology as we know it, leading to supplies shortages, delayed procedures, and an at-risk patient population fearful of the road ahead. How has the outbreak affected cath labs?

Orsiro stent continues to outperform Xience at 3 years

Three-year data from the BIOFLOW-V trial, presented Feb. 23 at the 2020 CRT Congress in National Harbor, Md., reinforce the status of Biotronik’s Orsiro drug-eluting stent as superior to the popular Xience stent.

Cath Lab

FDA warns that certain coronary imaging catheters are being removed from market over safety concerns

Family of heart patient who died awarded $45M after suing health system for negligence

FDA clears new device for enabling access to the heart’s surface without an exposed needle

Choosing left radial access in the cath lab helps cardiologists limit radiation exposure

Advances in bioresorbable stents show promise for treating PAD