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.

A study that analyzed patient outcomes in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in veterans showed outcomes for on-pump and off-pump procedures over 10 years to be similar. Photo by Jim Lennon

SAVR/CABG vs. TAVR/PCI: Key differences when heart patients present with severe AS and CAD

Surgery offers multiple long-term benefits when compared to a more interventional approach, though it is still associated with certain risks of its own. In the end, researchers agree, the decision is one that should involve input from surgeons, cardiologists and others.

ACC.24 sign American College of Cardiology

American College of Cardiology announces late-breaking clinical trials for ACC.25

The presentations will cover a variety of topics, including coronary artery disease, semaglutide, artificial intelligence, TAVR, heart failure, PCI and much more. ACC.25 takes place March 29-31 in Chicago.

George Dangas, MD, 2023-24 president of SCAI, director of cardiovascular innovation at Mount Sinai Hospital, and director of the TCT meeting, explains key trends he sees in interventional cardiology.

New directions and trends in interventional cardiology

Interventional cardiology continues to evolve, driven by rapid advancements in technology. George Dangas, MD, discussed some of the specialty's biggest ongoing trends with Cardiovascular Business. 

A majority of medical devices involved in Class I recalls were never required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to undergo premarket or postmarket clinical testing, according to new research published in Annals of Internal Medicine.[1]

Valve durability after TAVR: Cardiologists track how deterioration influences outcomes

Researchers have made it a priority to learn as much about the durability of TAVR valves as possible. A new study in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions used updated VARC-3 definitions to identify signs of hemodynamic valve deterioration in nearly 2,500 patients.

Meril Life Sciences, an India-based medical device company founded in 2006, developed the Myval TAVR valve

Early outcomes with Myval TAVR valve comparable to popular devices from Medtronic, Edwards

Meril Life Sciences has been manufacturing its Myval heart valves for years. The devices are approved and available in both India and Europe, but they have not been approved by the FDA.

The use of intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is still safe and effective when patients present with calcified nodules (CNs), according to new long-term data published in EuroIntervention.[1] Researchers compared outcomes from patients with and without CNs, highlighting key similarities in stent expansion and luminal gain.

Experts in interventional cardiology, medical billing unite to discuss Shockwave Medical’s IVL technology

Intravascular lithotripsy has quickly emerged as one of healthcare’s most in-demand technologies. Now Shockwave Medical, part of Johnson & Johnson MedTech, is co-hosting a webinar designed to teach coding and billing specialists how to code appropriately for peripheral and coronary IVL procedures. 

cardiologist viewing heart data

Aortic valve calcium scores help predict need for a permanent pacemaker after TAVR

RBBB remains the single strongest predictor for PPMI after TAVR, but high AV calcium scores still provide care teams with considerable value.

A TAVR procedure being performed at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. These structural heart procedures require a team approach.

Diabetes reduces survival after SAVR, but not TAVR

"TAVR has been associated with better valve hemodynamics and a lower risk of structural valve deterioration over time compared with SAVR," researchers wrote. "This benefit may be particularly relevant for diabetes patients who face higher risks of vascular complications."

Around the web

Several key trends were evident at the Radiological Society of North America 2024 meeting, including new CT and MR technology and evolving adoption of artificial intelligence.

Ron Blankstein, MD, professor of radiology, Harvard Medical School, explains the use of artificial intelligence to detect heart disease in non-cardiac CT exams.