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.

CCTA outperforms TEE after LAAO, new meta-analysis confirms

Researchers reviewed data from more than 1,300 patients who underwent both CCTA and TEE after undergoing LAAO. The two modalities were comparable in many ways, but cardiac CT was linked to a few key benefits.

Newsweek ranked the 50 best heart hospitals in the world

New LAAO guidelines: 6 key takeaways for interventional cardiologists and electrophysiologists

SCAI and HRS have collaborated on new guidelines designed to help clinicians make the safest, smartest treatment decisions possible.

Boston Scientific’s Agent Drug-Coated Balloon (DCB), which delivers a therapeutic dose of the anti-proliferative drug paclitaxel to the patient’s scar tissue to prevent ISR from recurring, gained FDA approval on March 1..

Boston Scientific’s coronary DCB gains new Medicare reimbursement

The first coronary DCB to gain FDA approval just received an additional reimbursement that could improve patient access. 

PASCAL Precision transcatheter valve repair system

Pascal system from Edwards Lifesciences linked to key benefits after M-TEER, T-TEER

The interventional device, designed to perform both M-TEER and T-TEER, is at the center of two new studies published in EuroIntervention.

cardiologist viewing heart data

Exploring the value of same-day permanent pacemaker implantation after TAVR

Temporary pacemakers are typically used for at least 24 hours before care teams consider implanting a permanent device. New research out of Canada suggests it may make sense in certain scenarios to go straight to the permanent pacemaker. 

PCI

Pilot study looks at same-day discharge PCI for acute coronary syndromes

Study shows same-day discharge is feasible for carefully selected, uncomplicated ACS patients. 

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. 

Larry Wood

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.