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.

FFR-guided CABG linked to reduction in heart attacks, deaths

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery guided by fractional flow reserve (FFR) significantly reduced the incidence of death or myocardial infarction when compared to angiography-guided CABG, according to an observational study with an average follow-up of seven years.

Nitric oxide reduces kidney injury following cardiopulmonary bypass

Nitric oxide administration during and after multiple-valve heart surgery significantly reduced patients’ chances of developing acute and chronic kidney problems, according to a randomized trial published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Sunil Rao, MD, to take over as editor of Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions

Sunil V. Rao, MD, will become the editor-in-chief of the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions on July 1.

Guidelines: Limit prescriptions to 30 pain pills after CABG

A multidisciplinary group of physicians, nurses, pharmacists and patients teamed up to provide guidelines on how many opioid painkillers should be prescribed following specific procedures.

‘Smart stent’ can wirelessly notify clinicians of restenosis

Researchers at the University of British Columbia have developed a “smart stent” that can monitor hemodynamic changes in the artery and warn clinicians of restenosis at its earliest stages.

FDA approves more lengths of Medtronic’s drug-coated balloon for PAD

The 200 and 250 millimeter lengths of Medtronic’s IN.PACT Admiral drug-coated balloon gained FDA approval to treat long superficial artery (SFA) lesions in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD), the company announced June 15.

Invasive procedures—including cardiovascular—boost risk of endocarditis

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgeries, in particular, were strongly linked to the life-threatening condition—carrying a 14-fold increase in relative risk, among the top five of all inpatient procedures analyzed.

HeartMate3: Next generation LVAD improves outcomes, decreases cost of care

Researchers have found the HeartMate 3 (HM3) left-ventricular assist device (LVAD) improves long-term outcomes and may also decrease the cost of care overtime for heart failure patients compared to the HeartMate II (HMII).

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?