Interventional Cardiology

This cardiac subspecialty uses minimally invasive, catheter-based technologies in a cath lab to diagnose and treat coronary artery disease (CAD). The main focus in on percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) to revascularize patients with CAD that is causing blockages resulting in ischemia or myocardial infarction. PCI mainly consists of angioplasty and implanting stents. Interventional cardiology has greatly expanded in scope over recent years to include a number of transcatheter structural heart interventions.

CRT 2026: Key takeaways for interventional cardiologists
CRT studies shed new light on many topics, including long-term TAVR outcomes, radiation protection and advanced interventional techniques.
Cardiology practice, cardiologists pay $4.75M to resolve DOJ fraud allegations
The physicians allegedly performed medically unnecessary ablation procedures as part of a years-long fraud scheme.
Shockwave Medical’s new coronary IVL catheter, now twice as fast, impresses after 30 days
The new-look device was designed to deliver 10 pulses to severely calcified coronary lesions in five seconds. Early data linked the catheter with positive 30-day safety and effectiveness outcomes.
Medtronic to acquire medtech company Scientia Vascular for $550M
Scientia Vascular, a Salt Lake City-based medtech company focused on developing new vascular devices, was founded in 2007 and has more than 300 employees.
Next-generation guide extension catheter delivers value during complex PCI
The CrossFAST system was successfully used to deploy multiple stents after other devices fell short.

Several interventional cardiology late-breaking studies were presented at the Cardiovascular Research Technologies (CRT) 2026 meeting March 7-10, and experts from the Society of Society highlighted what they felt was most impactful to clinical practice. Photo by Dave Fornell.

CRT 2026: Key takeaways for interventional cardiologists

CRT studies shed new light on many topics, including long-term TAVR outcomes, radiation protection and advanced interventional techniques.

Cardiology practice, cardiologists pay $4.75M to resolve DOJ fraud allegations

The physicians allegedly performed medically unnecessary ablation procedures as part of a years-long fraud scheme.

Shockwave Medical’s new coronary IVL catheter, now twice as fast, impresses after 30 days

The new-look device was designed to deliver 10 pulses to severely calcified coronary lesions in five seconds. Early data linked the catheter with positive 30-day safety and effectiveness outcomes.

Medtronic to acquire medtech company Scientia Vascular for $550M

Scientia Vascular, a Salt Lake City-based medtech company focused on developing new vascular devices, was founded in 2007 and has more than 300 employees.

Angiography demonstrates a high-grade, modestly angulated stenosis (arrow) in the proximal segment of a large diagonal branch (A). Predilation performed with difficulty, and the GEC could not be advanced beyond stenosis even with “inch worming” techniques. (B). Advancement of the CrossFAST (C) beyond the proximal stent edge stenosis (a.), the position of the distal end of the outer catheter (b.), and the microcatheter tip (c.) are indicated.

Next-generation guide extension catheter delivers value during complex PCI

The CrossFAST system was successfully used to deploy multiple stents after other devices fell short.

Newsweek ranked the 50 best heart hospitals in the world

Moderate valve oversizing during TAVR boosts survival—too much may be less beneficial

Oversizing transcatheter heart valves can improve TAVR outcomes. There is still a reason to be cautious, however, especially when patients are receiving a balloon-expandable valve.

Ligence Heart is a recently FDA cleared AI that fully automates analyses, measurements and reporting for transthoracic echo.

Cardiology now has more than 200 FDA-cleared AI algorithms

Cardiology is No. 2 behind radiology when it comes to FDA-cleared AI algorithms. Neurology, meanwhile, is a distant No. 3.

High-sensitivity troponin protocol most successful at freestanding EDs

Freestanding EDs demonstrated meaningful operational advantages over hospitals when using an accelerated troponin pathway. This included earlier discharges for low-risk chest pain patients.