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.

stroke brain dementia alzheimer's puzzle mental health

Stroke after TAVR in AFib patients: Key risk factors cardiologists should know

Reviewing a patient's medical history can help care teams select the optimal post-TAVR oral anticoagulation strategy.

Sahil Parikh, MD, FSCAI, Director of Endovascular Services at New York-Presbyterian Columbia University Irving Medical Center, and Associate Professor of Medicine at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, explains there is scant clinical data on what the standard of care should be for pulmonary embolism, so it is up to clinicians to decide what is best for patients based on whether patients have mild to severe PE.

Pulmonary embolism treatments continue to evolve

There is still a lack of lack of standardized treatment protocols for pulmonary embolism. This is mainly due to limited data and a lack of reliable risk assessments, one specialist explained.

Elixir Medical DynamX sirolimus-eluting coronary bioadaptor FDA

FDA grants drug-eluting bioadaptor its breakthrough device designation

The Elixir Medical DynamX sirolimus-eluting coronary bioadaptor is designed to improve coronary luminal diameter, help restore hemodynamic modulation and reduce plaque progression in patients with de novo coronary artery lesions.

Medicare money payment physician

Cardiology groups push for Medicare reform in face of ‘unsustainable’ payment cuts

Nearly 130 healthcare groups are urging Congress to pass legislation that would provide relief to U.S. physicians struggling to keep up with wave after wave of payment reductions.

healthcare value value-based care money dollar

Cardiology Funding Roundup: Cardurion, Kestra, TRiCares all secure key investments

Businesses in the cardiovascular health space have been busy in recent weeks, announcing one big financing round after another. 

Researchers have developed artificial blood vessels that could be as strong and durable as the real things, publishing their work in Advanced Materials Technologies.[1] The group hopes its work could go on to make a significant impact in care for heart bypass patients.

Artificial blood vessels could limit risks during heart bypass procedures

Even grafts that represent the current gold standard for bypass surgeries are associated with high failure rates, researchers noted. They think these 3D-printed blood vessels could provide considerable value. 

Video interview with Sahil Parikh, MD, FSCAI, director of endovascular services, New York-Presbyterian Columbia University Irving Medical Center and associate professor of medicine at Columbia University, who discusses the disparities in PE treatments in the REAL-PE study

REAL-PE highlights disparities in pulmonary embolism care

Sahil Parikh, MD, director of endovascular services, New York-Presbyterian, explains details from the big-data REAL-PE study comparing mechanical thrombectomy to ultrasound assisted catheter thrombolysis.

PCI interventional cardiology

‘Failure to rescue’ after PCI: 20% of patients die when complications occur

Major complications are rare during percutaneous coronary intervention. When they do occur, however, the in-hospital mortality rate is relatively high.