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.

Angiography, PCI improve outcomes in non-STEMI patients with kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease is a marker of adverse outcomes in patients with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (non-STEMI), according to a study published this month in the American Journal of Cardiology. And even though percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary angiography (CAG) are linked to improved outcomes in those patients, they’re also drastically underutilized in clinical practice.

Accomplished interventional cardiologist, advocate Joseph Babb dies

Joseph D. Babb, MD—who performed the first coronary angioplasty in the state of Connecticut and was a past president of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI)—has died, SCAI announced Sept. 6. He was 79.

Lawsuit: Surgeon left needle inside patient during open-heart surgery

The family of a Tennessee man who died in 2017, one month after open-heart surgery, is suing TriStar Centennial hospital, alleging the surgeon left a needle inside his body.

VISION: 75% of deaths after noncardiac surgery due to cardiovascular complications

Late-breaking results from the VISION study, presented early this week at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)’s annual symposium, found nearly three-quarters of patient deaths after noncardiac surgery can be attributed to cardiovascular causes.

1-year outcomes still support culprit-only PCI for cardiogenic shock

For patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) complicated by cardiogenic shock, stenting only the culprit lesion showed a trend toward improved one-year survival when compared to multivessel PCI, according to the latest results of the CULPRIT-SHOCK trial presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Munich.

Distal protection reduces no-reflow phenomenon among select PCI patients

Intravascular ultrasound may help identify patients who will benefit most from distal protection during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), according to a new study published in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.

‘Averting’ contrast fails to limit AKI after coronary angiography

The Avert system successfully reduced contrast media volume but failed to trim the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) following coronary angiography, according to a trial published in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.

ORBITA researchers show physiological benefit of PCI for stable CAD

The same investigators who ignited debate among interventional cardiologists with the ORBITA trial in November 2017 have now published a small study highlighting the ability of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to immediately reduce ischemia and boost patients’ exercise capacity.

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?