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.

First 500 patients in Align-AR trial using TAVR for pure aortic regurgitation show strong outcomes
Raj Makkar, MD, Cedars-Sinai, explains the late-breaking data from the Align-AR trial on the first 500 patients treated for aortic regurgitation using the Jena Valve TAVR device.
5-year Evolut Low Risk Data: Durable clinical outcomes, outstanding valve performance
The late-breaking five-year results of the Evolut Low-Risk Trial presented at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) 2025 meeting in late March, showed positive results for the Evolut transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) system vs. surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR).
FDA clears new device for enabling access to the heart’s surface without an exposed needle
CardioVia's ViaOne technology includes a blunt-tip needle that remains concealed to help interventional cardiologists and electrophysiologists treat cardiac arrhythmias with a reduced risk of perforation or any other complications.
Late-breaking cardiovascular drug trials took center stage at ACC.25
Richard Kovacs, MD, detailed some the most important late-breaking cardiology pharmacology trials presented at ACC.25.
Deaths after TAVR are on the rise: Is the pandemic to blame or should cardiologists be concerned?
COVID-19 may help explain the increased rates of cardiac and noncardiac mortality among TAVR patients, but there are several other factors to consider as well. Researchers explored nearly 11 years of STS/ACC registry data to learn more.

Is age ‘just a number' when it comes to PCI patients in their 90s?

The proportion of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) performed in nonagenarians has more than doubled in the last decade in the United States, offering a significant survival benefit for those deemed healthy enough for the procedure, according to a study published online Sept. 17 in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.

On-pump CABG tops off-pump approach for long-term survival

Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is associated with an 11 percent increased risk of mortality compared to on-pump CABG, according to a registry study of cardiac surgeries performed in New Jersey from 2005 to 2011.

Worse PCI outcomes for women persisted over 10-year span

Women who received percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the U.S. from 2004 through 2014 were 20 percent more likely to die in the hospital and 81 percent more likely to experience major bleeding compared to men, according to an analysis published this month in PLOS One. Those differences remained after adjusting for preprocedural risk factors.

Distance traveled for PCI has little effect on veterans’ outcomes

Half of patients who receive percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) at Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals in the U.S. travel more than 48 miles for the procedure; a quarter travel at least 110 miles. Yet distance to the PCI site doesn’t significantly influence one-year outcomes, a recent study found.

Pre-activating cath labs speeds reperfusion, boosts survival for STEMI patients

ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients have better odds of survival if emergency medical services (EMS) personnel alert the hospital where the patient will be arriving ahead of time, according to a study published Sept. 17 in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.

PK Papyrus covered stent gains FDA approval to treat coronary perforations

The FDA has approved the PK Papyrus covered coronary stent system to treat acute coronary artery perforations, device maker Biotronik announced Sept. 14. It is the first device to be approved by the FDA for this indication in 17 years.

Angiographic completeness of PCI not tied to outcomes after FFR-guided stenting

Visual estimations of the completeness of revascularization failed to predict subsequent cardiovascular events for patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) who underwent stenting guided by fractional flow reserve (FFR), researchers reported in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

COAPT, SOLVE-TAVI among major trials at TCT.18

Gregg W. Stone, MD, had the unenviable task of condensing the 255-page agenda for next weekend’s Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) meeting into a handful of highlights during a 12-minute media briefing on Thursday, Sept. 13.

Interventional Cardiology

First 500 patients in Align-AR trial using TAVR for pure aortic regurgitation show strong outcomes

5-year Evolut Low Risk Data: Durable clinical outcomes, outstanding valve performance

FDA clears new device for enabling access to the heart’s surface without an exposed needle

Late-breaking cardiovascular drug trials took center stage at ACC.25

Deaths after TAVR are on the rise: Is the pandemic to blame or should cardiologists be concerned?