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.

Newsweek ranked the 50 best heart hospitals in the world

ACC.24: TAVR linked to lower 1-year mortality, stroke rates than SAVR in low-risk patients

TAVR is noninferior to SAVR when treating low-risk patients, according to new data presented at ACC.24. In fact, it is associated with multiple benefits over surgery.

April 8, 2024
Foluso Fakorede, MD, interventional cardiologist, Cardiovascular Solutions of Central Mississippi, explains how he moved to rural Mississippi, the epicenter of the PAD and CLI epidemic, to open a practice to take action and reverse the glaring health disparities and that are leading to more than 400 leg amputations per day in the U.S.

Cardiologist moves to Mississippi to fight back against PAD and limit amputations

Interventional cardiologist Foluso Fakorede, MD, opened a practice in rural Mississippi, the epicenter of the PAD and CLI epidemic, to try and reverse the glaring health disparities in that region.

April 8, 2024
ACC.24 sign American College of Cardiology

ACC.24: Impella CP boosts survival for patients with STEMI-related cardiogenic shock

“This is the first time in a very long time that we have a positive study for managing cardiogenic shock,” one cardiologist said. 

April 7, 2024
ACC.24 late-breaking clinical trials

ACC.24: Self-expanding Evolut valves offer superior performance for TAVR patients with small annuli

The SMART trial included one-year data from TAVR patients randomized to receive either a self-expanding Evolut valve or a balloon-expandable Sapien 3 valve. All patients presented with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis and a small aortic annulus. A whopping 87% of participants were women. 

April 7, 2024
Money dollar investments

Johnson & Johnson to acquire Shockwave Medical for $13.1B

The rumors, it seems, were true. Once the deal is finalized, Shockwave Medical will operate as a business unit within Johnson & Johnson MedTech.

April 5, 2024
Transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (TPVR) with Medtronic’s self-expanding Harmony valve is both safe and effective after more than a year, according to new real-world data published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.[1]

TPVR with self-expanding Harmony valve associated with ‘excellent’ real-world outcomes

Transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement is still linked to certain risks, researchers noted, but new data confirm it is a safe, effective treatment option for patients with severe PR. 

April 4, 2024
Osso VR, a San Francisco-based virtual reality (VR) company, has developed a new VR training simulation focused on left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) procedures. The simulation is designed to offer clinicians a new way to practice LAAO procedures in a “repeatable, risk-free virtual environment.”

Cardiologist-approved VR for interventional procedures headed to ACC.24

San Francisco-based Osso VR and the American College of Cardiology have collaborated on advanced LAAO simulations. The two groups first started working together back in 2022. 

April 4, 2024
Product Recall

FDA announces new recall of neurovascular catheters built by Johnson & Johnson subsidiary

The recall is due to ongoing concerns about the devices breaking. Three patients have been injured as a result of this issue.

April 4, 2024

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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