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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Non-acute coronary procedures vary widely by state

New research published in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions shows substantial variation between states for non-acute coronary angiograms, percutaneous coronary interventions and coronary artery bypass graft surgeries.

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Abbott’s XIENCE Sierra stent to be reimbursed through insurance in Japan

Abbott’s XIENCE Sierra, the newest generation of the company’s everolimus-eluting coronary stent, has been approved for national reimbursement in Japan.

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Novel device treats pulmonary embolism without clot-dissolving drugs

A new device allows clinicians to remove blood clots from the pulmonary arteries and improve right ventricular function without the use of thrombolytics, according to a late-breaking clinical study presented April 26 at SCAI 2018 in San Diego.

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Radial artery grafting in CABG tied to better patency, fewer adverse events

A meta-analysis published April 30 in the New England Journal of Medicine supports radial artery grafts over saphenous vein grafts in coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG), showing lower risks for myocardial infarction, repeat revascularization and graft occlusion.

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International registry shows progress for chronic total occlusion PCI

Operators trained in the hybrid approach to PCI of chronic total occlusions (CTOs) demonstrated technical and procedural success rates of 87 percent and 85 percent, respectively, in a multicenter international trial.

Less is more? Double antithrombotic therapy sufficient for AFib patients after PCI

A new meta-analysis found double antithrombotic therapy following PCI for patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib) was associated with 47 percent fewer bleeding events than triple therapy and similar rates of major adverse cardiac events.

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American Airlines sued after passenger dies after in-flight pulmonary embolism

The family of a newlywed nurse is suing American Airlines after she fell ill on a flight and died. The cause of her death was determined to be an acute massive pulmonary embolism and cardiogenic shock.

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CULPRIT-SHOCK confirmed: Another study supports culprit-only PCI

A retrospective study of patients with acute MI complicated by cardiogenic shock presented at SCAI 2018 supported the message from the randomized CULPRIT-SHOCK trial: culprit lesion PCI is associated with lower mortality than multivessel revascularization.