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.

Updated balloon-expandable TAVR valve from Edwards outperforming its predecessors
The fifth-generation valve is associated with improved hemodynamic data and a reduced rate of paravalvular leak, according to new research published in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions and EuroIntervention.
Medical device company raises $87M to study new-look scaffolds for BTK PAD
R3 Vascular also announced that Christopher M. Owens, a veteran of the medical device industry, is its new president and CEO.
FDA warns against use of troubled heart devices, citing ‘continued concerns’ after multiple recalls
The agency is urging healthcare providers to transition away from these devices and seek out alternatives. It is even working with other manufacturers to try and get similar products on the market as quickly as possible.
Health disparities are causing serious harm, leading to 400 amputations per day
Interventional cardiologist Foluso Fakorede, MD, says everything from limited specialists to a lack of sidewalks are causing a disproportionate rate of minorities to be caught in the current PAD and CLI epidemic.
Moderate aortic stenosis linked to heightened risk of death—should TAVR, surgery be considered?
Researchers tracked data from more than 400,000 patients for a new meta-analysis, presenting their findings in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

New guidelines detail PFO management, including when to consider closure

The new guidance document was designed to provide helpful information on a topic "surrounded by controversy."

May 20, 2022

Kirk Garratt, past SCAI president, explains the impact of the iodine contrast shortage on interventional cardiology and the cath lab. #SCAI

VIDEO: How the iodine contrast shortage is impacting interventional cath labs

Kirk Garratt, MD, medical director of the Center for Heart and Vascular Health, ChristianaCare, and a past president of SCAI, explains what this shortage means for interventional cardiologists.

May 19, 2022

Intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) Shockwave Medical PCI PAD CAD trial prsented at SCAI 2022. #DisruptPAD, #DisruptCAD, #SCAI #SCAI22 #SCAI2022

Intravascular lithotripsy tied to superior long-term PAD, PCI outcomes at SCAI 2022

Two separate sessions presented at SCAI 2022 focused on long-term outcomes associated with Shockwave Medical's IVL technology.

May 19, 2022

VIDEO: Cardiology getting more involved in pulmonary embolism response teams

Terry Bowers, MD, director of vascular medicine at Beaumont Hospital and national co-chair of the Pulmonary Embolism Research Collaborative (PERC), explains the trend toward creating pulmonary embolism (PE) response teams that include cardiology.

May 18, 2022

Renal denervation is associated with improved blood pressure (BP) control and a reduced risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes, according to two late-breaking clinical trials presented at EuroPCR 2022 in Paris. Both clinical trials focused on three-year data related to Medtronic’s Symplicity Spyral Renal Denervation (RDN) System, which was designed to lower BP through the use of a curling catheter that ablates overactive nerves.

Renal denervation improves blood pressure control, lowers risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes

Two late-breaking clinical trials at EuroPCR 2022 in Paris focused on the potential benefits of renal denervation.

May 17, 2022

Medtronic’s more deliverable drug-eluting stent gains FDA approval

According to Medtronic, the Onyx Frontier DES features improved catheter flexibility and a lower crossing profile.

May 13, 2022

The steps involved to gain transcaval access between the inferior vena cava and the aorta to avoid problematic anatomical areas that would have otherwise disqualified a patient for a femoral access TAVR procedure. Illustration of the NIH

Transcaval TAVR outperforms transaxillary TAVR when femoral access is not an option

Transcaval TAVR was linked to a much lower stroke rate and fewer bleeding complications.

May 6, 2022

The Shockwave Medical M5+ new peripheral intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) catheter cuts procedures times in half and was showed for the first time at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) 2022 meeting. It is designed to break up calcium in heavily calcified arteries to avoid the need for vessel trauma caused by high pressure angioplasty.

VIDEO: Shockwave Medical demonstrates faster intravascular lithotripsy at ACC.22

The new Shockwave Medical M5+ peripheral intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) catheter made its debut at ACC.22.

May 5, 2022

Around the web

Health Imaging

New imaging protocols proposed to curb rise of cardiovascular infections

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

Radiology Business

What does radiology have to do with climate change?

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."

Interventional Cardiology

Updated balloon-expandable TAVR valve from Edwards outperforming its predecessors

Medical device company raises $87M to study new-look scaffolds for BTK PAD

FDA warns against use of troubled heart devices, citing ‘continued concerns’ after multiple recalls

Health disparities are causing serious harm, leading to 400 amputations per day

Moderate aortic stenosis linked to heightened risk of death—should TAVR, surgery be considered?

Around the web