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.

Catheters recalled due to defect—FDA highlights risk of stroke or brain damage
The recall was put in place after a hydrophilic coating was discovered on the inside of the devices. According to the FDA, patients treated with the catheters could face a number of significant risks.
FDA clears TAVR guidewire built with BASILICA in mind
The Telltale system was designed to assist cardiologists when BASILICA is required prior to TAVR.
New technique could help when cardiologists repair 2 leaky heart valves at once
Performing M-TEER and T-TEER on the same patient using a single guide catheter appears to be both safe and effective. Researchers shared their experience with this approach in Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions.
‘Strongest growth in over a decade’: Heart tech helps Medtronic beat earnings expectations
The company's PFA and TAVR technologies both played key roles in the successful second quarter. In addition, Medtronic expects its place in the renal denervation market to make a major impact going forward.
Did Boston Scientific pull the plug too early on TAVR devices? Cardiologists weigh in
Boston Scientific stopped selling its Acurate TAVR systems after they underperformed in a few key trials and failed to gain FDA approval. Was it the right call?

New guidelines detail PFO management, including when to consider closure

The new guidance document was designed to provide helpful information on a topic "surrounded by controversy."

Kirk Garratt, past SCAI president, explains the impact of the iodine contrast shortage on interventional cardiology and the cath lab. #SCAI

VIDEO: How the iodine contrast shortage is impacting interventional cath labs

Kirk Garratt, MD, medical director of the Center for Heart and Vascular Health, ChristianaCare, and a past president of SCAI, explains what this shortage means for interventional cardiologists.

Intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) Shockwave Medical PCI PAD CAD Disrupt PAD Disrupt CAD SCAI 2022

Intravascular lithotripsy tied to superior long-term PAD, PCI outcomes at SCAI 2022

Two separate sessions presented at SCAI 2022 focused on long-term outcomes associated with Shockwave Medical's IVL technology.

VIDEO: Cardiology getting more involved in pulmonary embolism response teams

Terry Bowers, MD, director of vascular medicine at Beaumont Hospital and national co-chair of the Pulmonary Embolism Research Collaborative (PERC), explains the trend toward creating pulmonary embolism (PE) response teams that include cardiology.

Renal denervation is associated with improved blood pressure (BP) control and a reduced risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes, according to two late-breaking clinical trials presented at EuroPCR 2022 in Paris. Both clinical trials focused on three-year data related to Medtronic’s Symplicity Spyral Renal Denervation (RDN) System, which was designed to lower BP through the use of a curling catheter that ablates overactive nerves.

Renal denervation improves blood pressure control, lowers risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes

Two late-breaking clinical trials at EuroPCR 2022 in Paris focused on the potential benefits of renal denervation.

Medtronic’s more deliverable drug-eluting stent gains FDA approval

According to Medtronic, the Onyx Frontier DES features improved catheter flexibility and a lower crossing profile.

State of the industry: 7 big takeaways from a new report on salaries and job satisfaction in cardiology

With physician burnout on the rise and a massive physician shortage on the way, it’s more important now than ever to keep a close eye on how the country’s cardiologists—and their colleagues—are being paid.

The steps involved to gain transcaval access between the inferior vena cava and the aorta to avoid problematic anatomical areas that would have otherwise disqualified a patient for a femoral access TAVR procedure. Illustration of the NIH

Transcaval TAVR outperforms transaxillary TAVR when femoral access is not an option

Transcaval TAVR was linked to a much lower stroke rate and fewer bleeding complications.

Interventional Cardiology

Catheters recalled due to defect—FDA highlights risk of stroke or brain damage

FDA clears TAVR guidewire built with BASILICA in mind

New technique could help when cardiologists repair 2 leaky heart valves at once

‘Strongest growth in over a decade’: Heart tech helps Medtronic beat earnings expectations

Did Boston Scientific pull the plug too early on TAVR devices? Cardiologists weigh in