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.

coronary sinus reducer shockwave medical

Coronary sinus reducer linked to improvements in patients with refractory angina—but questions remain

Treatment with the device is consistently safe, but researchers still think more data is required before reaching any conclusions about its efficacy. 

John Puskas, MD, MSc, PhD., FACS, FACC, professor of surgery, and chief of cardiothoracic surgery at Emory University Hospital Midtown, explains how interventional cardiologists can play a role in increasing referrals for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery for patients who are best suited for the procedure, as opposed to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). As the heart team approach expands across cardiology, with surgeons and interventionalists making more decisions together.

How interventional cardiologists can boost cardiac surgery volumes

Competition was once fierce between interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons, but that has changed over the years. "It is absolutely a partnership," one veteran surgeon told Cardiovascular Business. 

Instylla Embrace Hydrogel Embolic System

New liquid embolic agent for hypervascular tumors gains FDA’s premarket approval

Instylla's Embrace Hydrogel Embolic System minimizes bleeding risks during the embolization of hypervascular tumors in the peripheral arteries.

Watchman TruSteer Access System

FDA says Watchman access systems may increase risk of air embolism—17 deaths reported

Because of this risk, which has been associated with 120 serious injuries, Boston Scientific is updating the instructions for use of several Watchman access systems.

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.