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.

doctor's open hand waiting for a payment

Changing with the times: How interventional cardiology finally met its Match

Trainees interested in interventional cardiology will now be able to use the Match program to find the right program for their needs. The move is associated with multiple benefits as well as some key challenges.

Newsweek ranked the 50 best heart hospitals in the world

Leadless vs. transvenous pacemakers after TAVR: Tracking complications, costs and survival

Leadless pacemakers may be an "attractive alternative" to transvenous devices when cardiologists treat older TAVR patients who experience conduction disorders.

Cordis has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for its new MYNX Control Venous Vascular Closure Device (VCD) for 6F-12F access sites. The company hopes to launch the newly approved extravascular closure device in the months ahead.

Cordis gains FDA approval for new closure device, inks pricing deal with Premier

The newly approved extravascular closure device was designed for procedures with access sites from 6 to 12 French. It uses the same proprietary GRIP technology found in other Cordis interventional devices.

StreamlineValve self-cleaning TAVR valve inspired by nature

Self-cleaning TAVR valve offers potential of fewer clots, better outcomes

Inspired by nature and funded by the European Research Council, a group of scientists and engineers thinks its new research could represent a significant breakthrough in TAVR care.

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

Temporary pacemakers after TAVR could reduce need for permanent implants

Care teams are always looking for new ways to limit the use of permanent pacemakers after TAVR. Could starting patients off with temporary devices be an answer? 

Innovalve Bio Medical's Innostay TMVR device. Edwards Lifesciences has agreed to acquire Innovalve after an initial investment in 2017.

Edwards Lifesciences to acquire medical device startup behind new TMVR technology

Edwards, an early investor when the company first launched in 2017, said the acquisition will ensure its TMVR platform reaches as many patients as possible. 

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.

Healthcare salaries and compensation

Compensation keeps climbing in cardiology, electrophysiology, heart surgery

Among general cardiologists, compensation increased nearly 8% from 2023 to 2024. Interventional cardiology and electrophysiology saw even larger jumps.

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.