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.

SAVR outperforms TAVR in patients with bicuspid aortic valves
BAV patients are often excluded from TAVR trials, creating uncertainty about the best way to treat that population when aortic valve replacement is required. To learn more, researchers tracked CMS data from 2018 to 2022, presenting their findings in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
Intravascular lithotripsy technology now a top priority for many healthcare companies
After the significant success of Shockwave Medical's IVL therapy to break up heavily calcified vessels without trauma, there are now several companies working on their own IVL devices.
SCAI president reviews achievements in interventional cardiology in 2024
SCAI President James Hermiller, MD, recently outlined the key achievements for 2024, including creation of the first interventional cardiology match program, successful advocacy and efforts to increase women in the field.
Treating AFib patients with TAVR still linked to elevated risks
While the technology and techniques associated with TAVR have advanced over the years, treating patients who present with baseline atrial fibrillation is still associated with certain risks.
Industry concerns over paclitaxel-coated devices may have put PAD patients at risk
Back in 2019, the FDA issued a warning about the use of paclitaxel-coated devices when treating peripheral artery disease. The agency took back that warning in 2023, but it appears to have made a significant impact on patient care.

Operator performs robot-assisted PCI from 100 miles away

“Tele-stenting” appears more possible now than ever, as Vascular Robotics announced an interventional cardiologist used its CorPath GRX System to perform a remote percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in a pig 100 miles away.

July 19, 2018

Women, blacks have higher CABG mortality rates

Women and black patients have higher coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) mortality rates than men and white patients, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

July 16, 2018

USPSTF: Evidence insufficient to assess benefits, harms of using ABI to screen for PAD

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) issued a Grade I recommendation for screening peripheral artery disease (PAD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk with the ankle-brachial index (ABI), indicating current evidence is insufficient to recommend screening without signs or symptoms of disease.

July 11, 2018

Thinner-strut DES linked to better 1-year outcomes

New ultra-thin drug-eluting stents (DES) are associated with a 16 percent reduction in target lesion failure (TLF) at one year compared to thicker-strut, second-generation DES, according to a meta-analysis published June 26 in Circulation.

July 9, 2018

Triple therapy: ‘Acceptable’ safety, fewer strokes for AFib patients after PCI

A triple therapy approach of warfarin, clopidogrel and aspirin substantially reduces the risk of ischemic stroke and stent thrombosis compared to dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), according to a meta-analysis of patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib) undergoing coronary stenting. However, the three-medication strategy is associated with a higher bleeding risk.

June 26, 2018

FFR-guided CABG linked to reduction in heart attacks, deaths

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery guided by fractional flow reserve (FFR) significantly reduced the incidence of death or myocardial infarction when compared to angiography-guided CABG, according to an observational study with an average follow-up of seven years.

June 25, 2018

Nitric oxide reduces kidney injury following cardiopulmonary bypass

Nitric oxide administration during and after multiple-valve heart surgery significantly reduced patients’ chances of developing acute and chronic kidney problems, according to a randomized trial published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

June 25, 2018

Sunil Rao, MD, to take over as editor of Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions

Sunil V. Rao, MD, will become the editor-in-chief of the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions on July 1.

June 25, 2018

Interventional Cardiology

SAVR outperforms TAVR in patients with bicuspid aortic valves

Intravascular lithotripsy technology now a top priority for many healthcare companies

SCAI president reviews achievements in interventional cardiology in 2024

Treating AFib patients with TAVR still linked to elevated risks

Industry concerns over paclitaxel-coated devices may have put PAD patients at risk