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.

Angiographic catheters recalled due to safety risk
The new Class I recall includes nearly 27,000 devices that could potentially experience a harmful defect during use.
AMA to advocate for improved Medicare payments for office-based labs
SCAI and other healthcare groups want changes made to how healthcare providers are paid after performing office-based lab procedures. "As much as we love delivering care as doctors, if we are losing money doing something, we cannot sustain it," one cardiologist explained.
Cardiologist became paralyzed after wearing heavy aprons in the cath lab for decades—but he fought back
Dean J. Kereiakes, MD, was left paralyzed after battling severe orthopedic issues for his entire career. Back in the cath lab after a long recovery, he is now stressing the importance of workplace safety among interventional cardiologists.
Cardiologists using less contrast in the cath lab—but there is room to improve
Researchers emphasized that minimizing procedural contrast use is an effective way to reduce the risk of post-PCI acute kidney injury.
Society of Interventional Radiology joins others in urging Medicare payment for high-cost disposables
The resolution urges the AMA to advocate for separate payment for certain services using supplies priced above $500, as well as those containing high-cost equipment.

Transcarotid Access: The Future of Non-femoral TAVR?

The transcarotid approach to TAVR is becoming more common, according to research presented at TVT.19.

Outsourcing Is In: Developing & Integrating Cath Lab Best Practices & Standardization

Sponsored by Terumo

Sometimes a move in the right direction starts with a good hard look in the rearview mirror, then breaking it off to start anew with greater wisdom.

Magnitude of industry payments to CV lab directors of great concern

Medical directors of cardiac catheterization and EP labs receive three to four times the amount of money from pharmaceutical companies and device manufacturers as other interventional cardiologists in the same zip code, according to a JAMA Internal Medicine study.

TCT, VEITHsymposium partner to strengthen conference material

The Cardiovascular Research Foundation is partnering with VEITHsymposium, one of the largest annual meetings in vascular medicine, to enhance conference material at both VEITHsymposium and the CRF’s yearly Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics conference, the groups announced June 20.

1st live transmission of robotic PCI performed in Europe

Corindus Vascular Robotics’ CorPath GRX system—the world’s only FDA-approved and CE-marked robotic platform for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and peripheral vascular intervention—was used in the first-ever live transmission of a robotic PCI in Europe during this year's EuroPCR congress.

Orsiro achieves lower target lesion failure, revascularization than thicker stents

Three-year results of the BIO-RESORT study, presented at EuroPCR this week in Paris, put Biotronik’s ultrathin Orsiro stent ahead of two other competitors in terms of target lesion failure and revascularization.

Medical association releases consensus statement on intra-coronary imaging

The European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI) has published a clinical guidance statement regarding the use of intra-coronary imaging (IC), sharing the document during its EuroPCR Annual Meeting, May 21-24 in Paris.

Abbott’s tricuspid valve repair system finds success in TRILUMINATE study

Results from the TRILUMINATE study, presented this week at EuroPCR 2019 in Paris, suggest Abbott’s minimally invasive tricuspid valve repair system is an effective solution for patients with structural heart disease, reducing the severity of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in more than 85% of test cases.

Cath Lab

Angiographic catheters recalled due to safety risk

AMA to advocate for improved Medicare payments for office-based labs

Cardiologist became paralyzed after wearing heavy aprons in the cath lab for decades—but he fought back

Cardiologists using less contrast in the cath lab—but there is room to improve

Society of Interventional Radiology joins others in urging Medicare payment for high-cost disposables