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.

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An example of spectral cardiac CT being used to show iodine density in the myocardium to show perfusion deficits. Shown by Philips healthcare at ACC 2022.

VIDEO: Mitigating the contrast media shortage impact on CT imaging

Brian Ghoshhajra, MD, MBA, division chief, cardiovascular imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and associate professor of radiology, Harvard Medical School, explains the impact of the iodine contrast shortage on computed tomography (CT) and cardiac imaging.
 

The Advanta V12 and iCast (bottom image) balloon expandable covered stents were recalled by Atrium/Getinge because the balloons may not deflate quickly when using thicker contrast for endovascular use.

More than 68,000 stents recalled after multiple injuries

Dozens of customers have reported issues with the device’s balloon or catheter hub separating from the delivery system, mostly during off-label use in a patient's blood vessels.

Same-day discharge after TAVR is safe for low-risk patients, leads to considerable cost savings

Researchers aimed to shine light on this key topic, tracking data from nearly 200,000 patients. 

Contrast shortage update: GE expects supply to 'progressively recover' soon

Production at the facility in Shanghai is expected to be near 100% starting on June 6.

Survival on the rise among high-risk pulmonary embolism patients

The study's authors examined data from more than 1.4 million patients, noting that pulmonary embolism response teams appear to be playing a significant role. 

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Transcatheter PVL closure linked to lower 30-day mortality than surgery

Long-term mortality, meanwhile, is similar between the two treatment options.

Medtronic has received FDA approval for its IN.PACT 018 Paclitaxel-Coated Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty (PTA) Balloon Catheter

Medtronic gains FDA approval for new DCB compatible with 0.018” guidewires

The drug-coated balloon was approved to treat patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in the superficial femoral and popliteal arteries

Dragonfly OpStar Imaging Catheter FDA recall May 2022

FDA announces Class I recall of 4,800 imaging catheters due to risk of vascular injury

There have been five reported incidents so far, including one patient injury.

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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.