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.

Sahil Parikh, MD, director of endovascular services, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, associate professor of medicine at Columbia University, and a program director for the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) meeting, explains the growing focus in interventional cardiology on endovascular procedures for stroke, pulmonary embolism, peripheral artery disease and renal denervation.

Interventional cardiology showing more interest in endovascular procedures

Sahil Parikh, MD, said it was clear at TCT 2025 that the specialty is getting more and more involved with endovascular procedures for stroke, pulmonary embolism and peripheral artery disease.

Carlos Collet, MD, PhD, director, cardiovascular imaging, physiology and translational therapeutics, Cardiovascular Research Foundation, explains how noninvasive coronary CT angiography (CCTA) assessments will play a major role to eliminate invasive diagnostic angiography and to pre-plan percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures.

CCTA will play an essential role in the cath labs of the future

Noninvasive coronary CT angiography is growing more and more important as time goes on, helping cardiologists make critical treatment decisions. Carlos Collet, MD, PhD, discussed the technique's potential to be a real game-changer for patient care in a new interview. 

Impella Heart Pump Abiomed RECOVER IV RCT cardiogenic shock

Transcaval access a safe, effective alternative during Impella implants

In some cases, researchers noted, cardiologists may need to rely on transcaval access during the treatment of a high-risk heart failure patient. 

To eat or not to eat: Is fasting still necessary before heart procedures?

As one may expect, patient satisfaction was considerably higher for individuals who did not have to fast for a minimum of six hours prior to treatment. There were no other significant differences.

cardiologists evaluating the human heart to provide a treatment strategy

Stem cell patch shows potential to heal heart patients—no surgery or transplant required

The new patch is implanted through a tiny incision and held in place with a biocompatible adhesive. It then helps the heart recover over time, replacing dead tissue that would typically never be able to regenerate. 

Video Robert Lookstein on mechanical thrombectomy beating anticoagulation alone in pulmonary embolism in the late-breaking STORM-PE trial at TCT 2025.

Mechanical thrombectomy beats anticoagulation alone in STORM-PE

Highly anticipated trial data comparing mechanical thrombectomy to anticoagulation alone for intermediate- and high-risk pulmonary embolism showed that the more aggressive strategy improved outcomes.

FDA panel to review first heart failure device of its kind

The shunt device being reviewed showed a 52% reduction in hospitalizations and favorable trends in mortality in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. 

Shockwave Medical Javelin Peripheral IVL Catheter

Shockwave Medical’s IVL catheter for peripheral lesions linked to positive 1-year data

The new findings, presented during a late-breaking presentation, focused on 110 PAD patients treated with Shockwave Medical's Javelin Peripheral IVL Catheter.