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.

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TCT.14: RIBS-IV sheds light on effectiveness of drug-eluting balloons

Drug-eluting balloons rather than drug-eluting stents may have a place in certain clinical scenarios, cardiologists said Sept. 14 during a press conference at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics scientific session.

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TCT.14: Google Glass debuts in the cath lab

Google Glass one day could become an interventional cardiologist’s new best friend, based on a demonstration Sept. 15 at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics scientific session that showed how the technology was used during a transradial PCI.

TCT.14: Six-week triple therapy fails to unseat six-month duration

Six weeks of triple therapy to provide anticoagulation to patients treated with drug-eluting stents was not superior to six months, according to results of the ISAR-TRIPLE trial presented Sept. 15 at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics scientific session. Panelists suggested sample size was a problem.

TCT.14: DKCRUSH-IV shows simpler is better in side branch stenting

Fractional flow reserve-guided side branch lesion stenting holds promise of fewer stents placed and more years between retreatment of stenosis, according to findings presented Sept. 14 at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) conference.

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TCT.14: Heparin may come back in vogue, but in low doses

Heparin is making a comeback in a big way, according to one statement made Sept. 14 at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) conference. The speaker went on to say it will become the anticoagulant of choice over bivalirudin and others.

TCT.14: Bioresorbable scaffolds appear safe at one year

Fewer patients with coronary artery disease who were treated with a bioresorbable scaffold experienced new or worsening angina after treatment than similar patients implanted with metal stents in the ABSORB II trial. The one-year results were presented Sept. 14 at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics scientific session.

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Risks higher for women undergoing STEMI PCI

When treating ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), does the patient’s sex have a role in their outcomes? According to a study published online Aug. 12 in Catheterization and Cardiovascular Outcomes, the answer is yes.

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TCT.14: Stents and TAVR, keynote speakers highlighted

Bioresorbable stents, TAVR trials, and keynote speaker Hillary Clinton are high on the must-see list of presentations at this year’s Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) conference, according to director Gregg W. Stone, MD. 

Around the web

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.

Ron Blankstein, MD, professor of radiology, Harvard Medical School, explains the use of artificial intelligence to detect heart disease in non-cardiac CT exams.