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.

Thumbnail

Cyclosporine does not improve clinical outcomes in STEMI patients

Patients with an acute anterior ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI) who were injected with cyclosporine immediately before undergoing PCI did not have better clinical outcomes compared with a group receiving placebo, according to a randomized, double-blind trial.

Post-discharge bleeding after PCI is associated with increased mortality risk

More than six percent of patient who underwent successful PCI with drug-eluting stents had post-discharge bleeding within two years, according to a prospective study. A multivariable analysis found post-discharge bleeding was the strongest predictor of two-year mortality.

Thumbnail

[VIDEO] Building a Protected PCI Program: The Heart Team Approach

Offered in cooperation with Abiomed

Building a Protected PCI Program: The Heart Team Approach

Short-term outcomes are positive following TMVR

After six months of follow-up, all three patients in a recent trial who underwent transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) to treat mitral valve disease remained alive and were not readmitted to hospitals for heart failure. The patients were treated with the Fortis mitral transcatheter heart valve, which is not FDA-approved.

Model identifies risk factors for early hospital readmission after PCI

A prediction model developed by researchers in Boston found that anticoagulation treatment, frequency of emergency department visits before the procedure and anxiety were associated with early hospital readmission after patients underwent PCI.

Early surgery superior to rescue surgery for mitral regurgitation

Patients who underwent early surgery for mitral regurgitation were less likely to have postoperative mortality and heart failure compared with those who waited for rescue surgery, according to a Mayo Clinic analysis.

Cardiac troponin T concentration helps predict outcomes

For patients with type 2 diabetes and stable ischemic heart disease, measuring their cardiac troponin T concentration may help predict their risk of death from cardiovascular causes, nonfatal MI or nonfatal stroke, according to an analysis of a randomized study.

Thumbnail

Understanding the factors behind hospital readmissions

Factors associated with greater odds for a 30-day readmission included patient comorbidity, race/ethnicity, insurance status, a longer length of hospital stay and developing postoperative complications.

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.

Trimed Popup
Trimed Popup