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.

Boston Scientific launches study comparing drug-coated balloons to standard care
"This important study will evaluate the potential benefits of the AGENT DCB for patients with certain anatomical features in de novo coronary lesions, where the avoidance of stents is preferable to help circumvent potential complications,” said Janar Sathananthan, MD, chief medical officer, interventional cardiology therapies, Boston Scientific.
Cardiovascular device approvals continue to lead the FDA's Breakthrough Device Program
Cardiology is number one in FDA Breakthrough Device designations at 218, the highest number out of all other clinical categories. This includes 16 new devices cleared in the past year.
How to prepare for cath lab complications
“It is your responsibility to be the patient’s advocate,” one expert explained. “We, as the nurses and technologists, have to speak up when we see something that isn’t right.”
SCAI details best practices for PDA closure in premature infants
Transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure has been a mainstay in congenital interventional cardiology for decades, but changes in the standard of care have resulted in catheter-based treatments overtaking surgical procedures.
TAVR in patients with bicuspid aortic valve stenosis: Does device type matter?
More and more care teams are treating BAV stenosis with TAVR instead of surgical aortic valve replacement. Self-expanding and balloon-expandable valves appear to have their own benefits—as well as their own risks.

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.

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.

‘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.

cardiologist Jason H. Rogers, MD, a professor at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, California

Q&A: What Medicare covering TriClip means for heart patients with leaky tricuspid valves

The tricuspid valve has been at the center of several key policy shifts in recent years. In fact, Medicare now covers both T-TEER and TTVR when performed with FDA-approved devices. We spoke to interventional cardiologist Jason H. Rogers, MD, to learn more about how this momentum has impacted patient care.

Toby Rogers, MD, Medstar, discusses a new dedicated device for BASILICA used in TAVR.

New device could make it easier than ever for cardiologists to perform BASILICA before TAVR

Toby Rogers, MD, PhD, noted that BASILICA is a fairly complex procedure. Using this advanced technology, however, could make it easier to perform and improve patient access.

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Stroke risk after TAVR still much higher for female patients

Women are associated with a significantly higher rate of in-hospital disabling strokes than men, according to a new study of nearly 380,000 TAVR patients. What can cardiologists do to help limit these complications?

Interventional Cardiology

Boston Scientific launches study comparing drug-coated balloons to standard care

Cardiovascular device approvals continue to lead the FDA's Breakthrough Device Program

How to prepare for cath lab complications

SCAI details best practices for PDA closure in premature infants

TAVR in patients with bicuspid aortic valve stenosis: Does device type matter?