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.

PCI interventional cardiology

‘Failure to rescue’ after PCI: 20% of patients die when complications occur

Major complications are rare during percutaneous coronary intervention. When they do occur, however, the in-hospital mortality rate is relatively high. 

Video interview with Jim Melton, DO, vascular surgeon, explains the CLI mortality rate among amputees in rural Oklahoma, and the need for outreach programs to screen more patients.

Death rate from critical limb ischemia is high in rural Oklahoma

In rural Oklahoma, double amputees due to untreated peripheral artery disease face mortality rates around 35% after one year and 60% after two. Jim Melton, DO, hopes his mobile cardiology clinics can make a difference for these patients.

Adona Medical adjustable interatrial shunt

Heart failure startup raises $33.5M for adjustable interatrial shunt

Adona Medical’s adjustable interatrial shunt can be made larger or smaller in size after implantation through the use of a custom-designed induction catheter.

Jim Melton, DO, vascular surgeon and co-founder of the CardioVascular Health Clinic in Oklahoma City, explains the use of mobile outreach cardiology clinics to help rural and Native American populations.

Mobile cardiology clinic reaches rural, Native American populations in Oklahoma

Jim Melton, DO, a vascular surgeon in Oklahoma City, explains his efforts to reach patients in rural Oklahoma and Native American tribes with a mobile cardiovascular clinic program.

Impella Heart Pump Abiomed RECOVER IV RCT cardiogenic shock

Impella use may not improve high-risk PCI outcomes

Impella heart pumps may not provide as much value when treating high-risk patients as early data suggested.

Biolimus A9 Coated Balloon from BioAscend

In-stent restenosis after PCI: New biolimus-coated balloon non-inferior to paclitaxel devices

A new study of nearly 300 PCI patients suggests biolimus-coated balloons could provide significant value to interventional cardiologists in the years ahead.  

Video interview with Peter Monteleone, MD, explaining the primary catheter-based interventional tools used to treat pulmonary embolism (PE).

A cardiologist's guide to treating pulmonary embolism

Interventional cardiologist Peter Monteleone, MD, discussed the primary tools used to treat pulmonary embolism in the cath lab.

Video of Peter Monteleone, MD, discusses role of cardiology in pulmonary embolism response teams (PERT). CT image of the heart showing bilateral pulmonary embolism blood clots in the pulmonary arteries leading into the lungs.

Interventional cardiology sees growing role in pulmonary embolism interventions

Peter Monteleone, MD, national director of cardiovascular research at Ascension Health, explains the growing role of interventional cardiology in pulmonary embolism treatment and PERT teams.

Around the web

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

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