Cath Lab

The cardiac catheterization laboratory is used for diagnostic angiograms and percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). Cath labs have also seen expanding use in recent years for transcatheter structural heart procedures. Some hospitals also share these labs with other subspecialties for catheter-based procedures in electrophysiology (EP), interventional radiology, peripheral artery disease (PAD), carotid and neuro interventional procedures and vascular surgery.

money business cash flow dollar. Kingsway Financial Services, a Chicago-based holding company with subsidiaries in several industries, has acquired New Jersey-based Digital Diagnostics Imaging (DDI) for $11 million. The transaction was funded with $5.4 million in cash and $5.6 million in debt financing.

FFR-guided PCI linked to significant cost savings

Researchers tracked data from more than 500 PCI patients, exploring the cost-effectiveness and safety of multiple treatment options. 

January 25, 2024
Samin Sharma, MD, director of interventional cardiology and director of clinical cardiology, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, discusses the first-in-human use of the Magenta Elevate percutaneous left ventricular assist device (pLVAD) with a small 10 French size and 5.5 liters per minute of hemodynamic support.

Initial results promising for world's smallest percutaneous heart pump

A new 10 French percutaneous heart pump could help greatly reduce vascular complications and improve cardiogenic shock outcomes.

January 22, 2024
Regularly eating avocados is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a new study.

Fasting before cardiac catheterization may not be necessary—recommend a heart-healthy diet instead

“Patients can safely continue oral intake until the time of the procedure, improving their satisfaction and comfort without adverse events,” researchers wrote.

January 11, 2024
Occlutech, a Swedish medical device company focused on structural heart disease, received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in January 2024 for its ASD occluder for the treatment of atrial septal defects (ASDs).

Occlutech gains FDA approval for occluder device for atrial septal defects

According to CEO Sabine Bois, a veteran of the medical device industry, this approval represents a "significant leap forward" in the company's commitment to heart patients. 

January 8, 2024
Video of Yousif Ahmad, MD, Yale, discussing IVL advances and increased reinbursements

Tracking key advances in intravascular lithotripsy

Yousif Ahmad, MD, spoke with Cardiovascular Business about the latest advances in IVL therapy, including new reimbursement changes for the technology. 

January 2, 2024
Ziad Ali, MD, explaines the impact of coronary intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) use in nodular and eccentric calcium morphologies at TCT 2023. IVL was found to produce better outcomes than atherectomy or high pressure balloons. #TCT #TCT2023 #TCT23 #IVL

IVL is safe and effective across all calcium morphologies, new research confirms

Ziad Ali, MD, detailed two studies he presented on coronary intravascular lithotripsy at TCT 2023 in San Francisco.

December 19, 2023
Newsweek ranked the 50 best heart hospitals in the world

Hybrid coronary revascularization vs. CABG for multivessel CAD: New meta-analysis tracks long-term outcomes

A hybrid approach may increase the risk of certain adverse events, according to a new meta-analysis focused on long-term outcomes. 

December 18, 2023
The Bern TAVI Registry looked at 2,500 TAVR patients to determine the level of prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM) using transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), predicting PPM based one the size of the valve used, or using CT measurements of the aortic annulus to see which was method was most accurate at predicting PPM. Image courtesy of Tomii et al. 

Cardiologists may want to rethink how they track prosthesis-patient mismatch after TAVR

Researchers evaluated two techniques for predicting PPM after TAVR, comparing them to how cardiologists typically check for PPM in day-to-day practice. 

November 17, 2023

Around the web

Eleven medical societies have signed on to a consensus statement aimed at standardizing imaging for suspected cardiovascular infections.

Kate Hanneman, MD, explains why many vendors and hospitals want to lower radiology's impact on the environment. "Taking steps to reduce the carbon footprint in healthcare isn’t just an opportunity," she said. "It’s also a responsibility."

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