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.

PASCAL Precision transcatheter valve repair system

Pascal system from Edwards Lifesciences linked to key benefits after M-TEER, T-TEER

The interventional device, designed to perform both M-TEER and T-TEER, is at the center of two new studies published in EuroIntervention.

cardiologist viewing heart data

Exploring the value of same-day permanent pacemaker implantation after TAVR

Temporary pacemakers are typically used for at least 24 hours before care teams consider implanting a permanent device. New research out of Canada suggests it may make sense in certain scenarios to go straight to the permanent pacemaker. 

PCI

Pilot study looks at same-day discharge PCI for acute coronary syndromes

Study shows same-day discharge is feasible for carefully selected, uncomplicated ACS patients. 

Cardiac surgeon John Puskas, MD, Emory University, says CCTA will make invasive angiography obsolete very soon.

CCTA could make invasive angiography a thing of the past

John Puskas, MD, thinks coronary CT angiography is on its way to completely transforming patient care. 

Larry Wood

Edwards Lifesciences loses TAVR leader to robotics firm, announces replacement

The change comes at a momentous time for the company's TAVR portfolio, which made history in May by receiving the very first FDA approval for treating asymptomatic severe AS.

John D. Puskas, MD, MSc, PhD., FACS, FACC, professor of surgery, and chief of cardiothoracic surgery at Emory University Hospital Midtown, explains when patients are best served with coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery rather than percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

How to choose between CABG and PCI when treating coronary artery disease

John Puskas, MD, chief of cardiothoracic surgery at Emory University Hospital Midtown, noted that both treatment options have their own benefits. It often depends on the patient's age and comorbidities, though there are other factors to consider as well. 

The use of intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is still safe and effective when patients present with calcified nodules (CNs), according to new long-term data published in EuroIntervention.[1] Researchers compared outcomes from patients with and without CNs, highlighting key similarities in stent expansion and luminal gain.

Complications after intravascular lithotripsy are rare, real-world data confirm

Shockwave Medical, now a part of Johnson & Johnson MedTech, has consistently been found safe for patients. However, many previous clinical trials excluded high-risk patients, making it important to track real-world outcomes as time goes on.

Heart cardiologists doctors surgery

‘This trend is encouraging’: Radial access for PCI now preferred in US

In fact, more than 55% of all PCI cases in 2022 were performed using radial access. Cardiologists are sure to be keeping a close eye on this trend as time goes on.