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.

X-ray photon trajectory during the simulation phantom study from the side and top views. Due to scattering of the X-rays when they hit the lower end of the patient bed, exposure in mainly to the lower body of the interventional echocardiographer performing transesophageal echocardiography. The green lines are the scattered photon trajectories calculated by Monte Carlo simulation in the study.

Radiation exposure in the cath lab: Tracking the impact on interventional echocardiographers

Researchers found that echocardiographers in the cath lab are exposed to high doses of radiation on the right half of their body, especially the waist and lower body. 

April 28, 2023
Janet Wei at Cedars-Sinai Hospital explains INOCA and MINOCA at ACC 2023.

Understanding INOCA and MINOCA epidemiology

Janet Wei, MD, associate medical director of the Biomedical Imaging Research Institute, and co-director of the stress echocardiography lab at Cedars-Sinai Hospital, explains the current information on the INOCA and MINOCA.

April 26, 2023
Raj Makkar, MD, Cedars-Sinai’s vice president of Cardiovascular Innovation and Intervention and the Stephen R. Corday, MD, Chair in Interventional Cardiology, explains the ACC 2023 results on the safety and efficacy of transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair in degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR) study. It was a review of data is from the STS/ACC TVT Registry that was presented at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) 2023 meeting.

New data on real-world TEER outcomes in patients with degenerative MR

TEER can significantly improve a patient's chances of survival, new findings confirm.

April 25, 2023
The Medtronic Evolut TAVR valve on display at ACC.22.

Redo TAVR appears feasible for most patients with supra-annular, self-expanding Evolut valves

Researchers evaluated data from more than 200 patients who underwent redo TAVR, noting that women and patients with a higher BMI faced a higher risk of coronary flow compromise.

April 20, 2023
American Heart Association and Joint Commission launch new Comprehensive Heart Attack Center certification.

ACS and revascularization after TAVR: New data on a high-risk scenario

“It is vital to identify patients who are at a high risk for ACS after TAVR for potential treatment beforehand,” according a new analysis published in the American Journal of Cardiology.

April 17, 2023
The variable fluorescence attenuation of blood has been a hindrance to near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) measurements in cardiovascular imaging. Fortunately, researchers have devised an innovative correction method in which the guidewire (GW) is coated with the fluorescent agent (ICG) and used as a reference standard in each frame, leading to a much higher accuracy. Credit: Rauschendorfer et al., doi 10.1117/1.JBO.28.4.046001

New technique improves accuracy of near-infrared fluorescence imaging

NIRF imaging could help interventional cardiologists personalize care in the cath lab, but a key engineering issue needed to be solved first.

April 17, 2023

Clopidogrel linked to better long-term outcomes than aspirin in PCI patients with and without diabetes

Clopidogrel is especially effective at limiting major adverse cardiovascular events among PCI patients with diabetes, researchers found. 

April 13, 2023
The LuX-Valve Plus transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement (TTVR) device

Cardiologists make history, perform TTVR with new-look valve for first time in U.S.

The new valve was placed inside the damaged valve via a catheter that is inserted through a small incision in the patient's neck. 

April 13, 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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