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.

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Report: Johnson & Johnson once again considering deal to acquire Shockwave Medical

Healthcare giants Boston Scientific, Johnson & Johnson and Medtronic were all reportedly interested in acquiring Shockwave Medical in 2023. Now, new rumors suggest a deal could be finalized within weeks. 

doctor comparing the costs of different medical treatments

TAVR is often more cost-effective than SAVR—but not always

Average lengths of stay and common complications are just some of the factors care teams should consider when evaluating the costs of aortic valve replacement. 

Virtual reality (VR) can help cardiologists plan for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures and predict the presence and severity of post-TAVR paravalvular leak (PVL), according to new research published in the Journal of Invasive Cardiology.[1]

VR before TAVR predicts paravalvular leak in high-risk patients

Performing virtual reality simulations before TAVR may help cardiologists anticipate when PVL could be an issue in patients with severe BAV AS.

Biosense Webster gained CE mark approval for its Varipulse pulsed field ablation (PFA) system in Europe

Biosense Webster takes key step toward FDA approval for Varipulse PFA system

The company already received CE mark approval for its new PFA offering and hopes it will soon be approved for sale in the United States.

The most popular selfie spot at ACC 2023. At one point the first day of the conference, there were about 1,0000 attendees waiting in a line about two football fields long to get a photo in front of the logo. A testament to the first post-COVID pandemic ACC and large numbers of returning clinicians to the in person event. ACC.23 had more attendees and vendor booths than in 0re-pandemic 2019. #ACC23 #ACC

ACC.24 to make the business side of cardiology a priority

While the American College of Cardiology's annual meeting has historically had a more clinical focus, presentations at this year's conference in Atlanta will spend much more time looking at the business side of things. 

Going green in the cath lab makes economic sense

New research explored the potential savings of turning off angiography systems at night and on weekends.

FDA grants new Elixir Medical Dynamx implant for BTK arterial disease its breakthrough device designation

FDA grants new implant for BTK arterial disease its breakthrough device designation

Elixir Medical's DynamX BTK System is an implantable device that supports BTK vessels after PCI or other interventions.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that Abiomed is recalling its instructions for certain Impella left-sided blood pumps due to significant safety concerns. New and revised instructions for use (IFU) have been sent to all affected customers.

FDA announces new recall impacting more than 66,000 Impella heart pumps after 49 deaths

More than 100 patients have been seriously injured as a result of a significant safety concern. The Impella devices can still be used, according to the recall, if customers refer to Abiomed's new and revised instructions for use.