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.

TCT 2016: Follow-up coronary angiography does not provide clinical benefits following PCI

A prospective, randomized trial in Japan found that follow-up coronary angiography following successful PCI had no clinical benefits and was associated with increased early revascularization rates.

Thumbnail

TCT 2016: EXCEL, NOBLE present conflicting findings on eluting stents, bypass surgery

Two new trials on eluting heart stents designed to treat unprotected left main coronary artery disease were presented at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) 2016 conference, and they have left cardiologists stumped over their conflicting findings. 

TCT 2016: PFO closure is more effective than medical management in preventing recurrent stroke

Late-breaking results from the RESPECT trial show that recommended anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs are less effective than surgical intervention. 

Thumbnail

TCT 2016: Cerebral protection device used during TAVR does not meet primary endpoint

A randomized trial found that an investigational cerebral protection device captured embolic debris in 99 percent of patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and did not change their neurocognitive function. However, the study did not meet its primary efficacy endpoint, which was the reduction in median new lesion volume in protected territories as assessed by MRI two to seven days after patients underwent TAVR.

TCT 2016: Fantom bioresorbable scaffold is safe, effective at 6 months

After six months, patients with coronary artery disease who received the investigational Fantom bioresorbable scaffold had a low risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, according to a prospective, multicenter trial. The device also had low late lumen loss.

Genes don’t stand alone: Genetic testing leads to incorrect diagnoses

Genetic testing provides physicians with more information to help make an accurate diagnosis. It is not a fool-proof way to ensure the diagnosis is never incorrect—as new research from Mayo Clinic shows.

TCT 2016: OCT-guided PCI is safe, non-inferior to IVUS-guided PCI

A randomized trial found that the post-PCI minimum stent area achieved after optical coherence tomography (OCT)-guided PCI was non-inferior to intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided PCI. There were also no significant differences in minimum stent area between the two approaches.

TCT 2016: Very thin strut drug-eluting stents are non-inferior to durable polymer stent

After a year, patients who were implanted with either one of two very thin strut drug-eluting stents had similar safety and efficacy outcomes compared with those who received a durable polymer stent, according to a randomized, all-comers trial.

Around the web

GE HealthCare said the price of iodine contrast increased by more than 200% between 2017 to 2023. Will new Chinese tariffs drive costs even higher?

Several key trends were evident at the Radiological Society of North America 2024 meeting, including new CT and MR technology and evolving adoption of artificial intelligence.