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.

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PCI, CABG both ‘acceptable’ strategies for patients with CKD

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who undergo coronary revascularization experience fewer adverse events in the short term with PCI compared to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) but similar three-year risks of death, stroke or heart attack.

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Cardiologist swims English Channel for 3D bioprinter for children’s hospital

Andrew Wolf, MD, a 63-year-old cardiologist, swam the English Channel to raise £20,000, or roughly $26,000, in funds for a 3D bioprinter to be used at the Bristol Children’s Hospital in the U.K.

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Experts recommend NOAC, clopidogrel for most AFib patients undergoing PCI

A new North American consensus statement published July 30 in Circulation recommends a non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC) and the P2Y12 inhibitor clopidogrel for most patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing PCI.

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Specialized surgical staff for CABG improves mortality rates, reduces complications

Patients who undergo coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) have shorter operations, fewer complications and better survival rates if they have surgeons who are subspecialized in CABG, researchers report in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery.

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Abbott announces pivotal trial for its mitral valve replacement system

Abbott announced it will conduct a pivotal clinical study in the U.S. of its Tendyne Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement (TMVR) system, for the treatment of mitral regurgitation (MR).

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Stroke rates higher after CABG than PCI—but only in first 30 days

Stroke rates are higher in the first 30 days after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) than percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) but are similar thereafter, according to a pooled analysis of 11 randomized trials published July 16 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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Frailty in younger patients post-CABG may increase mortality

While frailty is generally viewed as a consideration for the elderly, new research in the Journal of the American Heart Association suggests it is deadlier in younger patients after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

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Discharge against medical advice post PCI is ‘infrequent but deadly’

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) patients who discharge against medical advice (DAMA) are twice as likely to be readmitted to the hospital, according to a new study published in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.