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.

Resilia tissue developed by Edwards Lifesciences linked to long-term benefits
Researchers tracked nearly 1,000 SAVR patients, presenting eight-year data at the Heart Valve Society’s annual meeting in Cairo, Egypt.
FDA warns that certain coronary imaging catheters are being removed from market over safety concerns
A catheter sheath detached during use and was left in the patient’s body. It was successfully removed, but the FDA said it is now evaluating the potential risk to others going forward. There is no official recall at this time.
Cardiologist-founded startup announces FDA clearance, first uses of new TAVR pacing system
“The device takes variability out of the procedure by giving the operator full control while automating ramp-up and back-up algorithms," according to a clinician who used the new technology. "The TAVR procedure is simplified, reducing physician and staff workload."
Death after 1 year more common for real-world low-risk TAVR patients than those treated in clinical trials
Real-world patients were still associated with "excellent" outcomes, but it is important for cardiologists and patients alike to know as much as possible about the odds of survival following treatment.
FDA clears catheter-based 4D visualization platform for complex heart procedures
The new technology from LUMA Vision allows operators to deliver 2D and 4D ultrasound images in real time. The advanced catheter was built with maneuverability and increased visibility in mind.

Outsourcing Is In: Developing & Integrating Cath Lab Best Practices & Standardization

Sponsored by Terumo

Sometimes a move in the right direction starts with a good hard look in the rearview mirror, then breaking it off to start anew with greater wisdom.

CV stents market expected to exceed $13B by 2025

The cardiovascular stents market is expected to reach $13.1 billion by 2025, up from $7.8 billion in 2017, according to projections from Fortune Business Insights.

TCT, VEITHsymposium partner to strengthen conference material

The Cardiovascular Research Foundation is partnering with VEITHsymposium, one of the largest annual meetings in vascular medicine, to enhance conference material at both VEITHsymposium and the CRF’s yearly Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics conference, the groups announced June 20.

UNC Children’s suspends complex heart surgeries amid investigation

North Carolina Children’s Hospital will be suspending heart surgeries for its most complex cases for the time being—a direct response to a New York Times investigation that called into question the safety of practices in the center’s pediatric heart surgery unit—the Times reported June 17.

TECAB reduces risk, expedites recovery for bypass patients

Mount Sinai Heart announced June 10 that a pair of its top cardiothoracic surgeons succeeded in performing two totally endoscopic coronary arterial bypass surgeries (TECABs) at the end of May, making the hospital the only center in New York State qualified to offer the procedure.

Stent strut thickness after PCI: Is thinner always better?

Ultrathin drug-eluting stents performed better than their thicker counterparts in a recent analysis of the BIO-RESORT trial, researchers reported in JAMA Cardiology May 21—but thinner struts might not always be the right go-to for patients after PCI.

1st live transmission of robotic PCI performed in Europe

Corindus Vascular Robotics’ CorPath GRX system—the world’s only FDA-approved and CE-marked robotic platform for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and peripheral vascular intervention—was used in the first-ever live transmission of a robotic PCI in Europe during this year's EuroPCR congress.

Orsiro achieves lower target lesion failure, revascularization than thicker stents

Three-year results of the BIO-RESORT study, presented at EuroPCR this week in Paris, put Biotronik’s ultrathin Orsiro stent ahead of two other competitors in terms of target lesion failure and revascularization.

Interventional Cardiology

Resilia tissue developed by Edwards Lifesciences linked to long-term benefits

FDA warns that certain coronary imaging catheters are being removed from market over safety concerns

Cardiologist-founded startup announces FDA clearance, first uses of new TAVR pacing system

Death after 1 year more common for real-world low-risk TAVR patients than those treated in clinical trials

FDA clears catheter-based 4D visualization platform for complex heart procedures